Witness

I know, this seems to be all that I'm talking about - the elder body "representing the royal priesthood", as if that is a-okay with God.  Please, if you see any scripture that shows it is okay with God, show me.   Satan's deception don't always appear evil, but must be perceived spiritually.  He cloaks himself as an angel of light, as well as his ministers. Do you believe the Watchtower organization is immune to Satan's deceptions?  He has dedicated himself to destroy Abraham's seed; those in Christ. Gen 3:15  JWs are trained to look away from their own people and into the world of men.  But, just as in Christ's day, lawlessness thrives among God's "nation".  

 

 

During the Annual Meeting, 2018, Stephen Lett gave his opening talk, entitled, “Appreciating Our Spiritual Paradise”. In his usual emphatic and grandiose manner, he listed seven points that were to prove JWs reside in a “spiritual paradise”. There are so many falsehoods in his presentation, I only cover his initial comments here. When I began jotting my thoughts down, it was hard to know where to stop, as this man who leads JWs has a unique way of convincing his audience, using boastful, humorous, yet hollow words; the trademark of a lie. 1 Thess 2:3-5 I feel like I have to “stand my ground” and do everything I can to expose this organization’s source of power …existing by the “powers of this dark world” and “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph 6:12,13 

He begins:

“When were Jehovah’s people taken into spiritual captivity by Babylon the great? Well, we know, we’ve learned recently, it was sometime in the second century c.e., after the death of the last of the apostles who were acting as a RESTRAINT and imitation Christians began to infiltrate the congregation and the ugly baby Christendom was born.”

He is referring to the presence of the Man of Lawlessness as Christendom, that “set itself up in God’s Temple” 2 Thess 2:3,4 (God’s Temple: 1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Heb 3:6; Eph 2:20-22)

Did the apostles act as a “restraint”, or indeed, is it the Man of Lawlessness ITSELF ‘holding back’, ‘detaining’, ‘hindering (the course or progress of)’; even “possessing” the entitlement to, the priesthood, who are the “living stones” of the Temple of God? (all are meanings for the Greek word katechō)

WHO is hindering the position that the anointed in the organization SHOULD take as God’s personally appointed priesthood? Mal 2:7; Heb 13:15; John 15:16; 1 Thess 1:4 

Let the Watchtower tell you:

“REPRESENTING the royal priesthood are appointed ELDERS, who serve in positions of responsibility in congregations of Jehovah’s people around the earth. These men deserve our respect and wholehearted support, WHETHER THEY ARE OF THE ANOINTED OR NOT.” 
“Rather than CHALLENGE their authority, we truly appreciate our hardworking elders!” Wt 02/8/1

Since the governing body has decided the elders are to “represent” God’s anointed holy ones, they act and speak in the capacity of a priesthood as representatives, but WITHOUT consulting what the holy ones may understand as scriptural truth. Matt 24:48-51; Micah 2:10,11

The governing body will tell you that elders are not priests, yet conveniently use the world’s “clergy-penitent privilege” to their advantage in various court cases filed against the Watchtower organization concerning pedophile issues.

Also, GOD’S AUTHENTIC PRIESTHOOD must OBEY those who REPRESENT THEM!

Have you ever considered how God views this, JWs? What does our High Priest, Jesus Christ, feel about a great army of elders REPRESENTING and at the same time, SILENCING his chosen priesthood of God’s Temple? (1 Cor 3:16,17) (Rev 9:1-4) 

THE AMBASSADORS OR REPRESENTATIVES FOR CHRIST ARE THE ANOINTED ONES. 2 Cor 5:20 Their weighty responsibility and commitment is solely to Christ, truth, and the Father. Isa 43:21; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Heb 13:15 
NEVER must they obey men! Acts 5:29

Jesus predicted that “false christs” or “false Messiahs” would come on scene during the last days, deceiving “even the elect”. Matt 24:24 In reality, who are the ambassadors or representatives of the governing body who carry out their teachings and decrees? Of course, it is the Body of Elders! For JWs who may become “inactive”, these representatives for the GB must implore them to reunite or “reconcile” themselves to “Jehovah’s organization” – the idol that YOU, JWs, have come to revere as salvation. Rev 13:1,4,8

Notice what the governing body has to say in this Branch Letter:

km 8/80 pp. 1-4 – “It is our hope that such ones will come to their senses, repent, and RETURN TO JEHOVAH’S ORGANIZATION which would be to their EVERLASTING BENEFIT.”

Words of an authentic priest, the apostle Paul:

2 Cor 5:20,21 - Therefore, we are Christ’s representatives, ("ambassadors") and through us God is calling you. We beg you ON BEHALF OF CHRIST to become REUNITED (“reconciled”) WITH GOD. God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive GOD’S APPROVAL THROUGH HIM.

JWs, is your heart in line with God and Christ, or with false “christs”, their false priests, and an IDOL?

To Aaron the first appointed high priest of Israel, God said,

“YOU are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting. 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I AM GIVING YOU THE SERVICE OF THE PRIESTHOOD AS A GIFT. ANYONE ELSE WHO COMES NEAR THE SANCTUARY IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.” Num 18:5-8

“It acted ARROGANTLY even against the Prince (Jesus Christ) of the heavenly army; it revoked his regular sacrifice and OVERTHREW the place of his SANCTUARY.” Dan 8:11

Yes, the elder body has accomplished overthrowing spiritual “Israel” – the sanctuary/priesthood of God. Rev 13:7; 9:3,4; 2 Thess 2:3,4 This act of abomination will not be fulfilled in such a concise manner anywhere else in the realm of the world, as Stephen Lett tells you.

“And NOW YOU KNOW” JWS!

…”what is RESTRAINING,

…that he may be REVEALED in his own time.

7 For the hidden truth of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now RESTRAINS will do so UNTIL HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY.. 8 AND THEN THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE REVEALED, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. “ 2 Thess 2:6-8

Time is running out. The Man of Lawless has been revealed; “taken out of the way” –EXPOSED, “APPEAR, TO ARISE FROM THE MIDST” – as the “abomination standing in the holy place” - God’s Temple sanctuary. Matt 24:15,16 

The elder body is an “image” of indisputable godly authority, over the “remaining ones of the woman’s seed”, and all of JWs residing with them. Rev.12:17,15; Dan.11:10

Who is behind this desire to restrain the gathering of the true Holy Ones to Christ (Rev 19:14,8;9:5) and "hold down" the emergence of truth?
2Thess.2:9 tells us. 

It is Satan who is using this puppet... to "restrain/hold down" the gathering of his foes (Rev 12:17; Eph 6:12). 

During this "lawless one's presence", Satan and the demons are "gathering" their own army. It includes these apostates (2Thess.2:2,3,9; Rev.16:13,14; 8:10,11; 9:2) and their lawless beast, who are assisting Satan in releasing these lies…  (2Thess.2:10,11,12;Rev.13:14; 9:3,7,8,9,10; Deut.28:42; Jer.46:23; 51:14,27)

...the "unclean inspired expressions" (Rev.16:13).
2 Thess 2:10-12; Rev 13:14; 9,7-10; Deut 28:42; Jer 46:23; 51:14,27; Rev 16:13 

Why do we see these two sides being gathered (Mal.3:18)?

On one side, there is Satan and his apostate prophet, along with its "man of lawlessness"(wild beast-Rev.13:18c). Along with these two, are all those deceived by them (2Thess.2:10; Rev.13:14,8; 1Tim.6:20,21). Satan is trying to prevent Christ from establishing the Kingdom, through which Satan will lose his dominion over the world (1John5:19b).

On the other side, we see Holy Ones being gathered to Christ, being fed true food from him, and then teaching that truth (Rev.11:3). As the final ones to be sealed, their faithful course ends in death, and then they are resurrected to join Christ in establishing the Kingdom (Rev.11:7,11,12; 20:4; 16:6;12:11;18:24). Pearl Doxsey, "The Thing That Acts As a Restraint"

Getting back to Lett’s opening address, we also cannot dismiss the possibility of many anointed present in the last 2,000 years. Were all of them captive under “Babylon the Great”? Were none of them faithful to Christ? How does the governing body know that every anointed one was taken “captive” by false teachings before the organization came on the scene a little over 100 years ago?

Revelation tells us about the faithful anointed ones up until the last deceitful stratagem was put in place by Satan, to conquer the anointed ones. THIS occurred A LITTLE OVER 100 YEARS AGO! Those living PREVIOUS to this end time demonic delusion, are mentioned in Rev 4:20:

4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, WHO HAD NOT WORSHIPED THE BEAST OR ITS IMAGE AND WHO HAD NOT ACCEPTED THE MARK ON THEIR FOREHEADS OR THEIR HANDS. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Rev 20:4

To understand this time period, we must perceive when the “thousand year” reign of Christ took place, which began when Christ came to the earth, conquering death. Matt 28:18; Ps 110:1,2; Acts 7:55,56 It is not in the future, JWs, but has progressed down to this day. Near the end point, a baseline of truth was presented, by leaders such as CT Russel and “Judge” Rutherford. Rev 20:1-3,7-9 The bait of truth was the captive element that gathered the anointed into a soon-to-be established “image” of a “spirit-directed organization”. Rev 13:15 

Under the influence of “demonic expressions”, time can effectively warp the purity of truth by introducing false doctrines. Rev 16:13-16 The need for an identifying “mark” develops, to denote those who have become captive to the lies uttered by an idol and its false prophets. Rev 13:11,16,17; 14:9,10,7

 

Stephen Lett continues:

“But now when did that captivity end? Well we know 1919. The year when true anointed Christians came out of captivity and PURE WORSHIP WAS RESTORED. And that means because this is year 2018 Jehovah’s people have been SET FREE for 99 years, almost a hundred years now.”

Pure worship is flexible terminology that helps cover a multitude of Watchtower’s sins. If God’s anointed and all you, JWs, are in subjection to men and consistent doctrinal changes that are taught as truth, have you been SET FREE from lies?

Watchtower 1969, 12/1 pp. 712-726: “In the year 1919 he (Jesus Christ) used the “key of the pit of the abyss” and opened the pit and let his repentant, faithful remnant of Kingdom joint heirs out. “

LEARN WHO OPENS THE ABYSS, AND WHAT STINGING ARMY IS RELEASED. 
NOTICE THAT THIS ARMY’S MISSION IS TO AFFLICT PAIN ON “THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SEAL ON THEIR FOREHEADS”. Rev 9:4 

WHO IS IT that must be “sealed” as faithful, cleansed of all sin, and becoming approved to serve in the Kingdom of God? It is the anointed priesthood. Mal 3:1-4; Rev 7:4 Would the army released as locust/scorpions be a remnant of faithful anointed ones, inflicting harm on their fellow anointed ones yet to be sealed? No. The true identity of the army belongs to those who desire to DESTROY spiritual “Israel” as the Man of Lawlessness.

Again, we see it is the Body of Elders that “treads” upon the Temple/priesthood of God, and who boldly, without fear, “represent” the royal priesthood. Rev 11:1,2 They are characterized as figurative stinging locust scorpions ravaging the “owned land”/”possession of God. Joel 2:2,3; 1 Cor 3:9; Acts 7:49; John 14:23; 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:22

No wonder Mr. Lett is so flamboyant in selling his “spiritual paradise”. The massive sin of this lawlessness in the organization that the “two witnesses” are trumpeting loudly, must be resonating in his ears. Rev 11:3,7

Here is another WT quote considering the events that apparently happened in 1919.

1962,1/15 pp. 41-48: Jehovah God the heavenly Father caused his “woman,” the Jerusalem above, to give birth in the first postwar year, 1919.

Firstly, as most of you present-day JWs know, Watchtower’s date of the “birth of the Kingdom” has changed to 1914. Yet, If this had occurred, the Kingdom of God would be here on earth.

When a woman gives birth, she has already suffered from labor pains leading up to the birth. However, the Watchtower teaches that labor pains follow AFTER the supposed “birth of the Kingdom”. Does this sound logical to you, JWs?

Let me show you how the Wt. gets around the otherwise natural process of birth.

NWT, Matt 24:7,8 - “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a BEGINNING OF PANGS OF DISTRESS.

We do see worldly "pangs of distress" suffered by all, but the true Greek meaning the Watchtower uses for “pangs of distress” is defined as, “the pain of childbirth, travail pain, birth pangs.” Interestingly, the “blueletterbible” also comments: “intolerable anguish, in reference to the dire calamities to PRECEDE the advent of the Messiah”.

Will the Kingdom of God “give birth” twice? Once in 1914 and again at the culmination of Armageddon? The organization actually teaches this, that there are two arrivals of Gods Kingdom, once in heaven beginning in 1914 and ruled by Christ, then on earth after Armageddon; and in between is to be Christ’s “thousand year” Kingdom. Setting dates results in confusion and gives evidence of the Man of Lawlessness in power. 2 Thess 2:1-4

Learn who this “woman” covenant is, and how the faithful under the New Covenant promise will facilitate the coming birth of the Kingdom. Rev 12:1,2; 2:26,27 

It is Satan’s desire to OBSTRUCT the birth of the Kingdom by promoting his twisted lies already revealed in just the opening words of a spiritual Harlot daughter of an adulterous “woman”. Isa 28:7,8,14,15; Rev 8:10,11; 13:11; 17:3-6 

Every aspect of Lett’s talk smooths over the hidden abomination that has “restrained” the operation of God’s priesthood. The good news is that there are anointed and companions who recognize it and have separated from this idol; “killed” for doing so by the Beast, but work under the Holy Spirit’s guidance to expose the truth about a counterfeit “spiritual paradise”. 1 Thess 5:1-3; Rev 13:4,11,14,15;11:7,11,12; Ps 14:7; Ezek 39:25; Nahum 2:2

If you, JWs, have any sort of genuine hope to worship God in the Kingdom, it means your life to perceive the authentic Man of Lawlessness ruling and “standing” in the Temple of God – “where it does not belong”. Mark 13:14 It means your life to take in the truth about this priesthood who are to TEACH AND SERVE YOUR NEEDS under God and Christ’s direction in the coming Kingdom. There will not be a Watchtower elder body to aid and teach God’s children in the Kingdom; but, this is what your leaders would have you believe. Rev 13:5,6 

WT 93 5/15 pp. 12-17 - “These Christian elders, or gifts in men, fit the description the prophet Isaiah gave (Isa 32:1,2) when foretelling the role of the “princes,” the administrators under Kingdom rule.”

WHO are the authentic “gifts in men”? They are the holy ones/saints/priests of God’s Temple, that the elder body deceitfully claims to “REPRESENT”. Eph 4:12; Isa 32:1,2; Dan 12:1; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 5:9,10; 20:6

Pearl Doxsey - 4womaninthewilderness:

"Locust-Scorpions"/Abaddon"/"fallen star"/"Wormwood"

"Coming to Life"

The "Thousand Years"/The "Image" of the Beast/Scrolls

The "Day" and "Night" of a Thousand Years/Two Kingdoms

"Tails/Stingers/Scorpions"

"Labor Pains"

Obadiah blogspot:

"Jacob's Ladder" Gen 28:12,13; John 1:51; Heb 1:14  

My son, if you accept My words
and store up My commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for He guards the course of the just
and protects the way of His faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

16 Wisdom will save you also from the ADULTEROUS WOMAN,
from the wayward woman with her SEDUCTIVE WORDS,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and IGNORED THE COVENANT she made before God. 
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
Proverbs, Chapter 2
 

To all JW, (and I am thinking of you, dear @Anna)  please consider hearing the moral struggle two previous elders share in this interview, when following the guidelines set out by the organization.

The two speak together:

“We had to suppress our natural humanity, and our natural”…”sort of our moral inner compass”.  “Because sometimes that would be going against what the POLICY was.  That was deeply troubling.  So, you had to be okay in departmentalizing and going against what your natural inclination might be as a caring person, to follow the organization policy.”

Love is patient, love is kind.
Love does not envy,
is not boastful, is not conceited,
⁵ does not act improperly,
is not selfish, is not provoked,
and does not keep a record of wrongs.
⁶ Love finds no joy in unrighteousness
but rejoices in the truth.  1 Cor 13:4-6

Rev 9:1-11 - The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star (fallen anointed; Dan 12:3; Phil 2:14,15; Rev 12:1,4; 6:12-14) that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. ² He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke came up out of the shaft like smoke from a great furnace so that the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the shaft. ³ Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. ⁴ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads.(anointed Rev 7:4)

In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. ⁷ The appearance of the locusts was like horses equipped for battle.(Rev 13:1,2,5,7) Something like gold crowns was on their heads; their faces were like men’s faces; ⁸ they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth; ⁹ they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing into battle; ¹⁰ and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months. ¹¹ They had as their king the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 

Christ does not lead this army of men wearing “iron breastplates”, that causes affliction on the unsealed anointed ones.  A breastplate protects the heart; in this case the significance of iron makes it impermeable to what?  Love, righteousness. 

Christ sees this affliction against his people “Israel” under the holding power of spiritual “uncircumcised Gentiles”, "standing in the holy place".   (Rom 2:29; Heb 8:10; Matt 24:15)

“Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far off.
For truth has stumbled in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.
¹⁵ Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.

The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and He was offended.
¹⁶ He saw that there was no man—
He was amazed that there was no one interceding;
so His own arm brought salvation,
and His own righteousness supported Him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and He wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.
¹⁸ So He will repay according to their deeds:
fury to His enemies,
retribution to His foes,
and He will repay the coastlands.
¹⁹ They will fear the name of YHVH in the west
and His glory in the east;
for He will come like a rushing stream
driven by the wind of the Lord.
²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Zion,(the Temple of God)
and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.  Isa 59:14-20

Rev 11:1-4 -  Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. ² But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. ³ And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

⁴ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.  Rev 11:1-3

Zech 4:13,14 - Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” ¹³ Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?”

And I said, “No, my lord.”

¹⁴ So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”

2 Thess 2:1-4 – “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (1914) ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

“Representing the royal priesthood are appointed elders, who serve in positions of responsibility in congregations of Jehovah’s people around the earth. These men deserve our respect and wholehearted support, whether they are of the anointed or not. Why? Because, through his holy spirit, Jehovah has appointed the older men to their positions. 

Rather than challenge their authority, we truly appreciate our hardworking elders! Their record of faithful service, often over many decades, inspires our trust. They faithfully prepare for and conduct congregation meetings, work side by side with us in preaching the “good news of the Kingdom,” and provide Scriptural advice when we need it.” w02 8/1 p. 13-14

Number 18:7 - But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

Dan 11:31 – “And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”

1 Pet 2:5,9 - As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

 Mark 13:14 - “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

Dan 12:7 – “Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people (“saints”) has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.”

Pearl Doxsey – disgustingthing blogspot

 

 

26 minutes ago, Queen Esther said:

FOR  THE  TRUTH,  A GOOD  HEART  IS  IMPORTEND  FOR  JEHOVAH,

That's all we need. 

The magazine cover below was posted here on the same day I had come across one of its articles. March 1,1979

"The desire to share with Jesus Christ in the vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty became a most powerful motivating force in the lives of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It strengthened them to endure the worst persecution that ever befell Jehovah’s Witnesses—during World War II. So Jehovah’s visible organization came off victorious once again to his vindication. For dedicated, baptized persons to share in that victory, what did it take? Faith in Jehovah’s theocratic organization. Did the remnant of spiritual Israelites and their theocratic companions, the “great crowd” of Christ’s “other sheep,” have such victorious faith? Yes!"

Those were the days, apparently.  I see no further “victories” of such on the horizon for the Watchtower at this time. Unless,  they twist the Russian situation into one of victory, proclaiming their faith in “Jehovah’s organization” helped them endure the persecution that has come upon them. However, many JWs have attempted to flee the country, which doesn’t reflect well on the power of their “haven of refuge”.  (WT 82 9/15 pp. 17-22)  

How does persecution and horrific deaths of JWs equate to an earthly organization gaining victory, and justifying God?  This “mountainlike” organization was not able to protect them from the terrible Nazi onslaught, nor has it been able to do so today in Russia.  Instead of God justifying himself, the organization justified or vindicated its existence as worthy of praise, as the recipient of one’s unrelenting faith, even in the face of persecution and death.    At the willing sacrifice of many on its behalf, it appears powerful, mighty and victorious. This is how I see the disgusting truth behind the underlying message in the opening Watchtower quote.   

The organization has a few descriptive terms:

Jehovah’s “earthly organization” professes to be “no part of the world”:

As in the first century, so in this twentieth century, Jehovah has an earthly organization. It can be identified by its fruits. Unlike the many religious organizations that are part of the world that is alienated from God and that profess to be his organization, IT HAS NOT ALLIED ITSELF WITH THE POLITICAL GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD.   It, therefore, shares none of the responsibility for the unchristian things done by those governments. w65 7/15 p. 427-428 

A “visible theocratic organization” that has established a “worldly” identity:

Being adapted to modern conditions and requirements and being obliged to render to Caesar Caesar’s things, the visible theocratic organization today HAS A LEGALLY ESTABLISHED SERVICE AGENCY, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, incorporated in 1884 under the laws of the state of Pennsylvania, United States of America. w54 9/1 p. 533 

Now notice what the 1884 “official magazine Watch Tower” has to say about organization:

“We belong to NO EARTHLY ORGANIZATION; hence, if you should name the entire list of sects, we should answer, No, to each and to all. We adhere only to that heavenly organization—‘whose names are written in heaven.’ (Heb. 12:23; Luke 10:20.) All the saints now living, or that have lived during this age, belonged to OUR CHURCH ORGANIZATION: such are all ONE Church, and there is NO OTHER recognized by the Lord.  Hence any EARTHLY ORGANIZATION which in the least INTERFERES with this UNION OF SAINTS is CONTRARY to the teachings of Scripture and OPPOSED TO THE LORD’S WILL—‘that they may be ONE.’ ( Joh 17:11.)” 

What a beautiful, captivating truth, which led God’s anointed people into eventual idolatry.  We now see that the Watchtower no longer follows this mission statement, but highlights the organization as absolutely necessary to acknowledge as one’s salvation.   Amos 3:5; Luke 21:34-36; Rev 20:7-9  

w72 6/1 pp. 328-333 – “As we approach the universal war of Armageddon it is vital to stay close to Jehovah’s mighty organization.”

We have a mighty, mountainlike, theocratic, even “spirit-directed” organization, still unable to protect its people. Judges 10:14; Rev 13:1,7,11,15 

We also see that the “union of saints” is not possible, since a false priesthood/elder body has INTEREFERED with their ability to be one body under their Head, Jesus Christ.  The Watchtower now states “such efforts (to bond) would cause DIVISIONS within the congregation and work against the holy spirit, which promotes peace and unity”. ( w16 January p. 24)  This is so strictly enforced that the elders have been given authority to spiritually “kill” any who reject their ruling position and the organization’s pseudo stance as “theocratic”.  Col 1:18; Eph 5:23,26,27,30-32; 1 Pet 4:10; 1 Cor 12:24-26; Rev 13:15,16; Matt 24:48-51 

A lot has happened since 1884 when Russel wrote his words in the Watchtower, hasn’t it, JWs.    He would be disfellowshipped today if he were to voice this belief to the present governing body. 

Only when all the parts of the body submit to Christ as head, will they find harmony, affection, agreement, and unity,
according to the arrangement of God, who supplies order and peace. 1 Cor 14:33; 1:10; 7:17; 14:32,40; Rom 9:16

Those who have humbly submitted to the Body's arrangement by God  (1 Cor 12:18; 11:29,31,32), have found that order and peace, and relief from the confusion which is the condition of those still under "Babylon the Great",
whose very name, means "confusion" ("Babylon"). (2 Cor 12:20; 1 Cor 1:11,12; 3:3; 4:6,18; James 4:1; 1 Cor 11:19)

There is little time left for the anointed to recognize what is required of them and to conform,
leaving behind their rebellion, idolatry, and spiritual fornication, to make peace with God (Isa 1:18-20). If they do, their sins will be washed away (Isa 48:20; Jer 31:11; Matt 24:12).
and they will be given a white robe....sealed as a vessel of Truth (Zech 3:1-10; Isa 4:2; Ezek 17:22; Zech 4:10).   Pearl Doxsey - "Unity of Christ's Body/Armageddon"

According to the 1884 WT, INTERFERENCE against the union of the saints is the SIGN OF OPPOSITION to the Lord’s will; and aptly describes the “Man of Lawlessness” who OPPOSES and EXALTS HIMSELF above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the TEMPLE of God, showing himself that he IS God.”  2 Thess 2:4  It is a “disgusting thing standing in the holy place”/Temple of God, an “abomination” representing the spirit-directed “image” of divine authority, which IS the organization. Ezek 44:6-9; Dan 9:27; Exod 20:3-6; Rev 13:11,15,4  

“They have placed their abominations in the house that bears My name and have defiled it. ³⁵ They have built the high places of Baal in Ben Hinnom Valley to sacrifice their sons and daughters in the fire, (or “pass through the fire”) to Molech—something I had not commanded them. I had never entertained the thought that they do this detestable act causing Judah to sin!  Jer 32:34,35

Today, to “pass through the fire” indicates to me a dedication and sacrifice of oneself to submit to evil; a fiery proof, contrary to refinement leading to personal victory in Christ.  It is the condemnation based on the Word of God.  Spiritual harlotry and idolatry results when one puts faith in a present day “Molech”, above our required faith in God. 2 Kings 17:17; Lev 18:21; Ezek 20:31; Jer 3:6,7;2 Pet 2:3; 1 Cor 3:13-15; Jer 23:29  

Baal means “Master”; Molech has the meaning of “master” “king”, but also "the most common word for chief magistrate" (“commander of an army”)    

Revelation tells us of two Beasts, two Masters, a dual spiritual power over God’s saints and many peoples during the last days. Dan 2:31,33,40-43; 7:7; Rev 13:1,2,11-13  

They revere or “worship” the first Beast, putting faith in its magnificent “spirit-directed” abilities, to lead them into a promised peaceful paradise. Rev 13:4,14,15; Ezek 13:10; Hos 4:12   For this offer, they are willing to face persecution and the loss of physical life if necessary, on behalf of ”Jehovah’s visible theocratic organization”. 

The army which the “Beast with two horns” gives authority to, is the “abomination” spoken of in Dan 11:31.  Rev 9:1-6;13:12  With eyes that are open, this transgression against God’s Temple is well observed as ‘sitting in’ and ruling over the anointed Temple of God, as directed to do so by the Beast/false prophet/Harlot.  2 Thess 2:3,4;1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Rev 19:20 

It is the Man of Lawlessness – an army of elders or “magistrates” which has received authority to oppress and “conquer” the anointed ones.  Dan 8:24; Rev 13:7  

Is the Watchtower Beast/Master truly “conquering” the saints?  Yes.  Conquering is the language of war,  which we are presently in; the war of Armageddon. Luke 21:20; Matt 24:3,24,25; 9-11,13,21; Dan 12:1,4

They are overcome by demonic expressions issued from the “dragon”, the Beast, and the second Beast/false prophet/Harlot.  Rev 16:13,14; Eph 6:12  For those who stand up to both Beasts, the “kings” and their “magistrates”, and who are persecuted for defending their faith in God and truth in Jesus Christ, they are symbolically “killed”; yet, they come alive in Christ. Mal 3:5; Eph 2:3-8; Rev 11:3,7,11; Matt 19:29    

It is known among all JWs, that those who take their stand against the GB’s decrees carried out by the elders, are disfellowshipped, which the organization considered a spiritual “death”.  This is the irony in teachings by this Beast.  Those who sacrifice their life on behalf of “Jehovah’s organization” are viewed as the victorious ones. Those who sacrifice their symbolic life for their testimony to Christ are considered worthy of eternal destruction. Jer 23:14; Matt 26:65; Heb 13:13; 12:2; 1 Pet 4:14,16; Rom 6:5; Matt 5:11; John 15:21; Acts 5:41; Rev 3,5,6  

A movie was made a while back about the prophet Jeremiah.  It is a movie of drama and scriptures combined, but there is one scene at the temple, that I will never forget.  Jeremiah is speaking to Zedekiah the last king of Judah, before the temple was destroyed and Israel went into exile to Babylon. He had earlier pleaded for the nation to submit to Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, but Judah was ready to battle against him.  (Jer 38:14-23) 

Jeremiah:   “Obey I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord  which I speak unto thee and your life will be saved, and the city will not be burned.”  

Zedekiah:  “So, now you’re speaking for the Lord again.  Well, never mind, our armies are prepared.”   

Jeremiah:  “How can you continue to LIE to yourself as well as your people?” 

Zedekiah:  “TRUTH is in the eyes of the beholder.” 

 Jeremiah:  “The word of the Lord which I speak to thee, IS the truth.” 

Zedekiah:  “The Lord which you ask me to seek…is SILENCE.  If God has something to say to me, why does he send you to tell me?”   

Jeremiah:  “Why would the Lord speak to you, unless you’ve committed your life to HIM.” 

Zedekiah:  “I HAVE.” 

 Jeremiah shakes his head, turns swiftly toward a set of large wooden double-doors, and flings them  open to reveal statues of idols.    

He says, “Instead of making monuments to false gods, make your LIFE a living monument to the word of God.”   

Zedekiah:  “It is as my people desire.” 

Jeremiah:  “You are KING!  They look to YOU for leadership!  Your pursuit of your own pleasure, wealth and power HAVE TAUGHT THE PEOPLE TO TRUST IN FALSE GODS!” 

He raises his voice even further,

“YOU HAVE LED THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THE ONE TRUE GOD…IS NOT ENOUGH!” 

JWs, is God alone NOT ENOUGH for you to put faith in?  Can you see that the faith you give to a most unique idol, a “spirit-directed” visible organization, can lead to your downfall?  Your leaders have convinced you to trust in a false god! The people in Jeremiah’s time believed that the presence of the “temple of the Lord” would save them, even though they harbored their idols.  Jer 7:3-5, 9,10  

What is your temple today?  Is it the organization?  It appears so, yet if the anointed were not in the Watchtower from the beginning, there would be no difference in your religion than any other in Christendom.  You may have forgotten who they are, these anointed “living stones” whom God expects their sacrifices to be heard and in harmony with pure truth in Christ. However, an “abomination”, a false priesthood of elders, has muscled its way in to rule over God’s Temple priesthood.  Ultimately, JWs DO practice the same hypocritical worship as Judah in Jeremiah’s time, by proclaiming their trust and faith in God, while also having full trust and faith in the organization, and the “kings” who brought them into a falsehood called “truth”.  Your leaders have sought out pleasure and wealth in material possessions, that they admire and praise (Warwick). Luke 4:5-7 They have slowly developed an unquestionable power over God’s anointed and YOU, TEACHING you to revere a monumental idol.  This idol has made the brazen promise of eternal life to those who “worship” it.  As Zedekiah said in the movie, “truth is in the eye of the beholder”.  2 Thess 2:9-12

When Joshua went up against Ai, they were defeated because one member “committed a trespass” regarding the “things set apart for destruction”, the “accursed”, the “doomed” that he brought into the camp.   Deut 13:17  

Josh 7:110-12 –“Israel has sinned. They have violated My covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings.¹²  THIS IS WHY THE ISRAELITES CANNOT STAND AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart.” 

The ”accursed thing” happened to be an eye-catching Babylonian garment. Luke 16:15 A garment from   Babylon -  the destroyer, an accursed city doomed to destruction. Ps 137:8  Garments in God’s word carry a symbolic meaning. It can clarify who or what we identify with; wickedness or righteousness.  Ezek 18:20; Isa 61:10; Ps 109:29  By choosing one or the other, it signifies who we are willing to “sacrifice” our life for.

 Even the rank and file "JW" is eager to surrender their "garment"/individuality/identity, to the Beast they admire...
as it says in the baptism vow...
"Do you understand that your dedication and baptism IDENTIFY YOU ("enrobes/dresses you"), as one of "Jehovah's Witnesses" in association with his "spirit-directed" organization?" (John 20:22) (Rev 13:15; 16:13-16; 19:20)

Yes... they desire an identity that belongs to and is associated with, the powerful...
and so they too, surrender their robes of individuality/personal reputation of integrity before God, to "don" their new garment/identity, as one of "Jehovah's Witnesses", under blind obedience to it's hierarchy under the wicked steward/harlot.  Pearl Doxsey -  "Our Outer Garment"

God pointed out to Joshua that His covenant had been violated.  His decrees that he had specifically said should be followed to guarantee their safety, were transgressed.  Josh 1:7,8;6:18,19  Today, God’s covenant with the anointed priesthood has been violated by allowing uncircumcised priests to present the “daily sacrifices” . Deut 21:5; Ezek 44:7; Mal 2:5-9 This is an “accursed thing”, doomed to destruction, that is present among the anointed and YOU.  2 Thess 2:7,8

 “Babylon’s” Harlot daughters direct the Watchtower Beast to lead YOU in supporting the “abomination” that defiles the House that bears God’s name. 1 Cor 3:16,17; Rev 17:3-6 

YOU wear the garment that indicates who you serve, which is the Beast/Man of Lawlessness.  Surely JWs, you must see that putting “faith in Jehovah’s theocratic organization” is bolstering lawlessness and idolatry!  Should we suffer persecution on behalf of an idol, an idolatrous “MOUNTAIN” that is the SOURCE of persecution for those anointed ones who DESIRE TO BE ONE UNDER CHRIST?   

Jesus replied to them, “HAVE FAITH IN GOD. ²³ Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this MOUNTAIN, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, IT WILL BE DONE FOR HIM. Mark 11:22,23

The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coasts and islands be glad.

² Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
³ Fire goes before Him
and burns up His foes on every side.
⁴ His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax
at the presence of the Lord—
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

⁶ The heavens proclaim His righteousness;
all the peoples see His glory.

⁷ All who serve carved images,
those who boast in idols, will be put to shame.
All the gods must worship Him. (“gods” – “angels”, Heb 1:6,14; Mal 2:7)

⁸ Zion hears and is glad,
and the towns of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments, Lord.
⁹ For You, Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted above all the gods.

¹⁰ You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of His godly ones;

He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
¹¹ Light dawns for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart.
¹² Be glad in YHVH, you righteous ones,
and praise His holy name.  Psalm 97

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Equivocation said:

@Witness Amigo, you are taking some huge leaps in the wrong direction. Not a whole lot of what you said addressed my main comment.

So what do us JWs have to do with people using and preaching that the Bible agrees with and or accepts homosexuality? Ever since the Christian Bakery incident we had people come out from the wood works. These same preachers preach that both Jehovah and Jesus were cool with the whole thing, even rinse and twist Jehovah's dealings with the people of Sodom and Gamorah.

On the other side, you have Transgender and support of it, who are in the same boat. And what is being taught by these people are now in the schools that are making parents uneasy. Us JWs know that Evolution isn't right and that it was Jehovah God that created everything, in the same sense as that example aside from Evolution you have people teaching that a boy can be a girl and a girl can be a boy. A grown man can be identified as a 7 year old girl, a dog, or a toaster.

You don't have to agree with my faith, dunno if you are or formerly a witness, but seriously, you should be aware of this stuff going on. I'm not even outside of school yet and this stuff is everywhere. To make matters worse, my state, this link speaks for itself

http://www.njfamily.com/Gender-Neutral-Birth-Certificates-Are-Coming-to-NJ/

Thanks.  It is true, I am more keenly aware of what is going on in the Watchtower than what happens in the outside world.  The Kingdom will not be "born" from the horrible circumstances within the world that you see, but through the faithful obedience of Christ's anointed ones to him.    Luke 17:20,21; 1 Thess 5:3; Rev 12:1-4

There are more horrid things that we cannot see, which must be perceived spiritually, and that are far more serious than what's happening in the world.  Eph 6:10-13

 

5 hours ago, Outta Here said:

I will not add or take away from the original post.

Not sure which post is the original; yours,  mine, or the first post on this topic.  

5 hours ago, Outta Here said:

Come to your own conclusions.

I certainly have. 

 

“Who is it he is trying to teach?
    To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
    to those just taken from the breast?

For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there.”  Isa 28:9,10

Wearing a beard should not change how people hear truth from the scriptures.  The organization is more concerned about "image", the pretense called "truth".  

1 hour ago, Equivocation said:

That's exactly my point to what I said before. So what of it? What are you contributing to the preachin work when there is legitimate obstacles like this? I don't know how old you are, but times are different now verses the past.

The peeps at school are teaching this stuff now and the state I live in has passed a Law that even puts Christians to the test.

 It is true that we see the results of Satan’s demonic accomplishments throughout the world. I have three sons that were “raised” in the organization, so I am aware of the trials of which you also are enduring.   However, I am old enough to have experienced spiritual obstacles in a belief held for over 30 years, that put my faith in God to the test.  Does the sign that an organization of people are “preaching”, show they are righteous by doing so?  A preaching work should be based on truth from Christ.  What if you thought you were making a difference by “preaching” information from a Watchtower magazine, only to find out that the topic of choice had to be changed – by your leaders – because their teachings, their prophetic views, were found to be wrong?  In the beginning, you told people it was truth, but it later was revealed that it wasn’t. How did you make a spiritual difference in the life of an individual by presenting a falsehood at their door?

The “good news” has been preached since Christ walked the earth.  People now have full access to Bibles, and according to their heart condition, can be led to the living water of truth. John 7:38  Christ and the apostles preached to God’s “nation”.  Matt 4:23; 3:2; Acts 10:34,35; 15:14; 13:47

It is the same with the end time preaching work that Jesus taught us to look for, narrowing it down to spiritual “Israel”.  You do know they are the anointed ones in the organization, I would guess – I would hope. Rev 7:4  Because JWs reside with them, the message and its warning, includes all of them.  Rev 18:4-8

Where does God make His home?  John 14:23   What is His dwelling? 1 Cor 3:16,17; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 3:17 Who comprise the symbolic “inhabited earth”?  Matt 13:23   God has a homeland in the hearts of the anointed ones. They are His field, His building, His “kings of the earth”, that must be cleansed of all lies and idolatry to be found worthy to serve Him, Christ and all mankind in the Kingdom. 1 Cor 3:9-11; Rev 1:4,6

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  Eph 2:20-22

Notice who receives the message:

“And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  Matt 24:14

God is specifically sending the message to His homeland, His people, “Israel”. 

“When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”  Matt 10:23

Today we have a spiritual “Israel”. Isa 43:10; 1 Pet 2:5,9,10  From them, the faithful will be found worthy to reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God. Rev 5:9,10  If you go back and read Matt 10:16-23, it describes the spiritual persecution that the faithful experience at the hands of their own “Jewish” leaders.  Are JWs brought before the “synogogues”?  No, but anointed and all who reject the very lies that you may have brought as truth to the door, are verbally “flogged”, and put to “death” – disfellowshipped.

When Jesus said, “go to the lost sheep of Israel”, the last symbolic “two witnesses” send their message to them – the anointed ones, the living stones of the Temple.  Rev 11:1-3; 1 Pet 4:5,9.  They are spiritually “killed” for rejecting the “mark”/identity of the organization.  Rev 11:7; 13:14-16

Why does this occur?  Because Satan demands to “sift” all the anointed since Christ, as “wheat”; just as he did by tempting Christ.  Luke 22:31; Luke 4:1-13  Will they follow only Christ, their Head, or men who say they are their head? Gen 3:15,16; Eph 5:25-27,32; Matt 24:48-51  He made the bait tailored to the minds of anointed who desire to “preach” truth; but as Satan so deftly can accomplish, this truth is laced with lies.   2 Thess 2:9-10; Rev 13:1,2,6-8; Rev 16:13-16

The “good news” is that “Israel” – “Jacob” – has been redeemed from their sins, if they leave/”flee” falsehoods and confusion, the meaning of “Babylon”.  Isa 48:20; Jer 50:28; Rev 18:4-8; 12:10; 15:2

 

 

I'll go back to your original comment:

22 hours ago, Outta Here said:

Inspired Choices? Jesus Picked Judas; Governing Body Picked Raymond Franz;

I wouldnt say either choice was inspired.

But as a parrallel situation, yes this is an excellent comparison

Will you explain to me why you believe the two, both Judas and Ray Franz,  are an "excellent comparison"?  How are they similar?  You really are beating around the bush. 

1 hour ago, Outta Here said:

They just are so similar, and the circumstances also, absolutely perfect. Whoever thought of combining them in one sentence is a genius, maybe without realising it at all. The choice may not be inspired, but the topic.....Maybe it was!

In other words, you are saying that Ray Franz is a son of destruction.  Who or what did he "destroy"?  The perfect circumstance is when an anointed in Christ is spiritually "killed"/disfellowshipped  by the organization's leaders, for giving testimony about the Christ and truth.  John 16:2; Rev  13:15  In this way, they begin walking in a similar path of persecution that he did at the hands of the Pharisees.  Luke 12:8-12; John 15:20

22 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Jesus with the organization that he leads results in persons of developing lands possessing modern Bible translations that, if need be, are free.

You might want to do some research to see just how many organizations offer free Bibles all around the world.  

5 hours ago, Outta Here said:

Inspired Choices? Jesus Picked Judas; Governing Body Picked Raymond Franz;

I wouldnt say either choice was inspired.

But as a parrallel situation, yes this is an excellent comparison

How are they an excellent comparison on a parallel level?   One aided in bringing Christ to his death.  Ray became a disciple of Christ, not of men.     One was the son of destruction; what did Ray "destroy"?    The GB are not apostles.  There is no comparison.  

3 hours ago, Equivocation said:

@Witness And yet my view and morals still stand on the issue. Have you changed anyone's life who supports such things?

There's people out there who use the Bible to justify homosexuality, and this blew up since the day the cake shop owner threw hands before Court. 

Which things?  It's not the question of who's life I change, but who are changed by truth in scripture.  

32 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Jesus with the organization that he leads results in persons of developing lands possessing modern Bible translations that, if need be, are free.

The organization that he leads is built on his body with "living stones". Eph 2:20-22   Perhaps you've got the wrong organization.  Rev 13:1-10   Notice..."this demands perseverance and faith of the saints".  Why? Because this "organization"/Beast is bent on conquering them.  

6 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Jesus ‘in the hearts’ of renegade anointed who refuse to cooperate with an arrangement because they think they are not given their proper place

Tom, who do I bring out constantly that have not been given credit as to their proper place?  The anointed ones.  I speak for THEM.   Since these priests have been supplanted by those not priests, not spiritual Israel, but spiritual "Gentiles" ruling over them, then how can you say Jesus is in agreement "with an arrangement" that men have formed?  Uninspired men?    

Jesus, who is the Head of his anointed body and the Temple.  Eph 5:22-30  These scriptures explain who the anointed are to be "submissive" to.  It isn't to men.  

What does Rev. 11:1-3 say?  Have you read it?  

On 2/7/2019 at 10:37 AM, TrueTomHarley said:

Well, there you go then. Coordinated effort such as under the direction of the GB can result in real spiritual benefits to people around the world, particularly in developing lands.

You sitting ALONE in your hut cannot, even if you are tight with Jesus.

I think it is the selfishness of the independent course that most annoys me. 

My, you give Jesus little credit.

I know I’ve posted these scriptures; but here I will quote it from the International Children’s Bible 😊

Then the angel who was talking with me came back. He woke me up as if I had been asleep. ² He asked me, “What do you see?”

I said, “I see a solid gold lampstand. There is a bowl at the top. And there are seven lamps. There are also seven places for wicks. ³ There are two olive trees by it. One is on the right of the bowl. And one is on the left.”

⁴ I asked the angel who talked with me, “Sir, what are these?”

⁵ The angel said, “Don’t you know what they are?”

“No, sir,” I said.

⁶ Then he told me, “This is the message from the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power. The power will come from my Spirit,’ says the Lord of heaven’s armies.

⁷ “No mountain (the “mountainlike organization”) can stand in Zerubbabel’s way. It will be flattened. Then he will bring out the topmost stone. There will be shouts of ‘It’s beautiful! It’s beautiful!’”

(Definitely we are not talking about a corrupt organization that calls itself "Zion".)  

⁸ Then the Lord spoke his word to me again. He said: ⁹ “Zerubbabel has laid the foundation of this Temple. (Not the Watchtower “temple”, but that which is built upon faithful anointed “living stones” 1 Cor 3:16,17; 1 Pet 2:5,9)  He will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of heaven’s armies has sent me to you.

¹⁰ “The people should not think that small beginnings are unimportant. They will be happy when they see Zerubbabel with tools, building the Temple.

“(These seven lamps stand for the eyes of the Lord. They look back and forth across the earth.)”

¹¹ Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”

¹² I also asked him, “What are the two branches full of olives? The olive oil flows through the two gold pipes to the lamps.”

¹³ He answered, “Don’t you know what they are?”

“No, sir,” I said.

¹⁴ So he said, “They stand for two men. They have been appointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

 

A symbolic “two” will complete the work God has outlined for them. Rev 11:1-6  Do you know how many that is?  Do you think it is 8 million people?  Doubtfully.

 

“Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something, then you can pray for it. And the thing you ask for will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them.”  Matt 28:19,20

 

 

 

 

 

"The organization is highly devoted to what they perceive as the correct understanding of the Bible." 

Jehovah’s Witnesses is a Christian church, and we have some clear biblical guidelines on how to behave in order to enjoy and be part of the life in the congregation. If someone commits serious sins against the moral code of the Bible, a judicial committee must address whether this person can continue to be part of the congregation. The book which you have, explains how a judicial committee works and the biblical principles they must follow.

Here is the moral code:

 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ³¹ The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself.There is no other command greater than these.”  Mark 12:29-31

No other, JWs. 

In court the boy also reveals how he had witnessed his mother knealing in front of his stepfather, begging for mercy.

And how he, the 15 year old, tried to go between them to stop the violence. But nothing worked. It’s then he, out of sheer desperation, together with his older brother, approached the Elders in their congregation. The brothers tell the Elders what is going on at home.

"I can’t witness this any more, how my mother and baby brothers are treated". That’s what he told the Elders. But they did nothing," says the woman.

WHO HAS BROKEN THE MORAL CODE OF THE BIBLE, BUT THE MEN WHO MAKE A PRETENSE OF FOLLOWING IT?

THIS IS WHY THE TWO-WITNESS RULE CONCERNING CHILD ABUSE DOESN'T WORK.  THE ORGANIZATION PERCEIVES IT AS COLD AND CALCULATING. 

If there was true love among the entire army of leaders in the organization, the elders would have acted upon it and responded to the boy's plea for help.

"Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold."  Matt 24:12 

1 hour ago, Anna said:

It seems like it's only you, and a few others on here has a problem with it. It's a little worrying because it almost seems like you are wishing the elders will act against these clearly stated instructions  in the wt, and shepherding book like you are not happy that the victims and others are assured that they are entitled to report even if they cannot prove it (two witnesses).

 

13 hours ago, Witness said:

Hypocrisy is never clear.  

I should have added, to the one who doesn't recognize it.   You appear to be very hopeful that these "clearly stated instructions" will be followed.  How many such instructions have been changed or completely ignored by elders?  My husband was an elder in a congregation where instructions were generally ignored until a "circuit brother" would be ready to call. They would scramble to "prepare" as a good elder body should.  There was no real concern for the sheep.  Shepherding calls infringed on the personal time of elders.  My husband took the bulk of them and was serious at visiting every person in need that he could.   But, not only did he realize that the instructions outlined in the Shepherd the Flock book were hypocritical, but also were the brothers who were suppose to carry them out.  He eventually dropped the Shepherd the Flock book on the table and walked out on the very night that elders were up until all hours making themselves look good for circuit overseer.   He left the organization on account of its hypocrisy.

A false priesthood of men not anointed who do not carry God's laws written on their heart as an anointed Body has been given, cannot and will not be equipped to shepherd the flock in righteousness.  Mal 2:7; Heb 8:10-11

Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Matt 7:12

How long has the organization been up and running?  What avenue has been used to force the changes that you now see concerning the major problem of child abuse and the safety of the victim?  It wasn't the teachings of Christ that caused the revision, but the law enforcement of men.  

1 hour ago, Anna said:

Yes, historical according to time. Doesn't matter that the court case happened "today" because it was discussing a historical case that happened:

Thank you; yet the outcome is still relevant today.

1 hour ago, Anna said:

Does anyone need it clearer than that???

 Hypocrisy is the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence, in a general sense, hypocrisy may involve dissimulation, pretense, or a sham. Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another. In moral psychology, it is the failure to follow one's own expressed moral rules and principles.

Hypocrisy is never clear.  

1 hour ago, Anna said:

You are talking about a historical case. I am talking about today.

What are you saying, historical because of it being a possible rarity, which I don't agree with; or, historical according to time?  The court case happened just this last fall; which in my book is "today".  

1 hour ago, Anna said:

Even if that were the case, this has nothing to do with the authorities handling the matter and convicting the perpetrator.

If the same pressure by these "rogue" individuals is put upon a victim, threatening them not to go to the police saying they will handle it in house, how will the authorities know to convict the perpetrator?   What you are saying sounds like the perfect plan, but it is a plan that will not work throughout the organization, and it's individual congregations.  

1 hour ago, Anna said:

So even if elders used some kind of buddy system to cover up for each other, the authorities would perform their own PROPER inquiry and investigation, the elders sticking up for one another and saying there is no internal case to answer will make no difference to the authorities who are qualified to investigate these matters because an allegation has been reported to them, and they will do their work.

It all sounds well and good, except in many "rogue" halls, it has been and will continue, to be done according to the will of the elder body.  It think this has been proven more than once.   If elders fail to follow the new guidelines, will they be disfellowshipped?  Just asking.  Will they suffer at the hands of the Watchtower as the victim did?

A jury in northwestern Montana handed down a $35 million award Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by two women against the local Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation and its worldwide headquarters.

The decision came down after a three-day trial. The Thompson Falls congregation and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the church’s institutional center in New York and Pennsylvania, will pay $4 million in compensation and $31 million in punitive damages. The monetary award applies to only one of the women who sued the church in 2016.

The women said Max Reyes, a member of the Thompson Falls congregation, sexually assaulted, molested and raped them over a 13-year period in the 1990s and 2000s, both before he was severed from the congregation and after leadership reinstated him 14 months later.

Watchtower, the church’s worldwide center, is the headquarters for the religious leadership and the church's institutional operations, such as policy making and financing. Each congregation is legally connected to Watchtower as one entity.

Earlier in the case, Judge James Manley ruled that Reyes’ criminal acts were foreseeable to the church leadership when they allowed him to return and that the congregation’s elders were not exempt from Montana’s mandatory reporting law when they learned of the allegations against him and didn’t turn him over to law enforcement.  From the "Missoulian"

 

Jesus simply said, "love your neighbor as yourself".  Is this so hard to understand?   Even those few words are incomprehensible to the leaders in the organization.  They are not obedient to Jesus' teachings, nor the law, but only to their selfish desires to do things their way. 

Even though I was disfellowshipped for apostasy, I was told I could “return to Jehovah and his organization” if I had a repentant heart.  No mention of time limit after that was given; and no followup for years now, to see if indeed, I have a repentant heart defined by the WT. 

*What methods do apostates use to achieve their aim? They often resort to distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehoods. Jesus knew that his followers would be victimized by those who would “tell all kinds of evil lies against” them. (Matthew 5:11, Today’s English Version)

1 Tim 6:3-5 - If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

w13 11/15 p. 20 -  At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. 

 

w 04/9/1 p. 15,16 - Deceptive reasonings. The apostle Paul states: “Do not be carried away with various and strange teachings.” (Hebrews 13:9) What sort of teachings? Since they can ‘carry us away,’ it is clear that Paul refers to teachings that undermine our spiritual balance. Who are voicing such strange teachings? Paul told a group of Christian elders: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:30) 

 

Who acts as the “faithful steward” appointing themselves “from among” God’s anointed household?  Luke 12:42-48

 *Such malicious opposers would tell what is not true with the intent to deceive others. The apostle Peter warned about apostates who would use “counterfeit words,” spread “deceptive teachings,” and ‘twist the Scriptures’ to their own ends. (2 Peter 2:3, 13; 3:16) Sadly, apostates succeed in “subverting the faith of some.”—2 Timothy 2:18.  04/2/15 16-17 

The large majority of Watchtower’s followers will never leave deceptive teachings and their source, such as 1975, 1925, “this generation”; that Zion is a visible organization and not found in the hearts of “living stones” of the Temple of God. 1 Pt 2:5,9,10; Eph 2:20-22; that it is okay for God’s priesthood/Temple to be ruled by men not anointed.  2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 11:1,2; 13:5-7,18

JWs may question their leaders and their intent when “new light” emerges, but their hearts will be inclined to “wait on Jehovah” to correct teachings that have been revealed as untrue.  The captivating offer of a spiritual paradise and a “thousand years of peace” to come is very difficult to give up, leaving one facing the unknown, outside of the walls of presumed “peace and security”.  1 Thess 5:3; 1 Col 2:8; Rev 13:5-10

 

w86 4/1 p. 31-  Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

2 Pet 2:1-3 - But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Fabricated stories unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses, are various and strange teachings that use deceptive reasoning, and may not appear practical from a human standpoint , causing an undermining of our spiritual balance.  Each lie robs a JW from the sound reasoning of Christ’s teachings.  This is denying the Christ, which means to “contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate”, his teachings, through the introduction of destructive heresies by false teachers found among God’s anointed ones.  Rev 13:11,12

And I am the apostate as well as my “brothers” and fellow believers in Christ - those who rely not on men and their falsehoods, but only on the teachings of Christ who is in the Father?

Satan can twist an entire foundation of beliefs by applying what is true, to what is false.  It is called a “delusion”.

2 Thess 2:9-12 -The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, ¹⁰ and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends (to “bid a thing to be carried to one”)  them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

 

Matt 7:24-27 - “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. (John 2:19-21; Matt 16:18; 1Cor 10:3,4) ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

 

What do you think?  Should we give them 6 months or a year?  2 Pet 3:8,9

 

 

Gerrit Losch:  "I do not direct and have never directed..."

 

Wikipedia:  Following a leadership dispute in the Bible Student movement, the Watch Tower Society remained associated with the branch of the movement that became known as Jehovah's Witnesses. In 1955, the corporation was renamed Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. In 1976, all activities of the Watch Tower Society were brought under the supervision of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.

In 1976, direction of the Watch Tower Society and of the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide came under the control of the Governing Body, reducing the power of the society's president. The society has described the change as "one of the most significant organizational readjustments in the modern-day history of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Following the death of Knorr in 1977, subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society have been Frederick W. Franz (June 1977 – December 1992); Milton G. Henschel (December 1992 – October 2000), Don A. Adams (October 2000 – 2014) and Robert Ciranko (incumbent). Adams and Ciranko are considered "helpers" to the Governing Body, which retains authority over the corporations.

 "Keep Holding Men of That Sort Dear".  The Watchtower. 15 October 2015. p. 3. The Governing Body members make the final decisions, but the helpers implement the committee's direction and carry out whatever assignments they are given. The helpers accompany Governing Body members to special and international conventions. They may also be assigned to visit branch offices as headquarters representatives. ... Helpers to Governing Body Committees ... Publishing Committee—Don Adams ... Writing Committee—Robert Ciranko...

 

Sounds like Mr. Losch is just plain lying.  

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Anna said:

You didn't answer my question: Do you have all the facts and detail regarding those cases?

This...

9 hours ago, Witness said:

Nope.  Would there have been an inquiry by the ARC if all were disfellowshipped?  Would there be one lawsuit against the WT if a victim's plea for justice was well respected, and decisions were made according to Christ's words to "love your neighbor as yourself"?  

Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:14-16

However, is the GB "ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD."   Jer 8:12

 

...was meant for you.  I inadvertently quoted myself.   

As far as answering questions, there are approximately 6 in my return comment to you, made Thursday at 9:48 AM .  I hope that you reason from scriptures; those above and those on the topics in Thursday's comment.  You appear to ignore their message.  

9 hours ago, Jack Ryan said:

Found this gem today (drama outline from 2002) . Check out the last sentence under Costumes. 😂

Such logical reasoning.  Go with the fake and not the genuine, as is WT's strong suit.  FALSEhoods are abundant in the WT, well prepared and obtained from the wicked hearts of men.  Luke 6:45.