Bible Student Elder, David Stein led a round table discussion on this topic. Joining him was other Bible Students Jim Parkinson, Ric Cunningham and JM.
Read ” AFTER ARMAGEDDON ” to discover a brighter result of this climatic event than has been reported. Click here to order the free booklet “After Armageddon” Type in the coupon code: ARMAGEDDON
Many Jehovah’s Witnesses look on Armageddon with great fear for themselves and especially loved ones not residing in the safety of the “Ark” (JW Organization). Just who will survive Armageddon? Let’s see how the JW Organization has answered this question in the past.
Watchtower Sept 1, 1989 page 19. – “Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.”
Watchtower 2007 Dec. 15 p.14 “But Jehovah’s servants already belong to the only organization that will survive the end of this wicked system of things. ”
If correct, then the angel’s promise of great joy for ALL people (Luke 2:10) is of little encouragement, since billions of mankind would never benefit from that promise. Bible Students agree and hope that many of the living Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive Armageddon. However, we also find scriptural evidence that many others will survive Armageddon as well as explained in the materials here linked to.
Here are more quotes:
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth p.255 – “Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God’s new system. There is only one. There was just one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization- God’s visible organization – that will survive the fast-approaching “great tribulation”. . . You must be part of Jehovah’s organization, doing God’s will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life. ”
Watchtower 2006 May 15 p.22 “Are You Prepared for Survival?” Paragraph – “During the final period of the ‘ancient world’ that perished in the Flood, Noah was a faithful ‘preacher of righteousness.’ (2 Peter 2:5) In these last days of the present system of things, Jehovah’s people are making known God’s righteous standards and are declaring good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world. (2 Peter 3:9-13) Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization. ”
Does the Bible support this frightening prospect. Will friends and family of JWs who are outside of the organization be eternally destroyed, if they die at the time of Armageddon? Are you afraid?
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love. – NWT
Hebrews 13:6 (Amplified Bible) – So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
If 1 John 4:8 says “God is love,” then shouldn’t love, not fear, be our motivation to serve Jehovah? Are you serving Jehovah in a certain way because you are afraid/fearful of being destroyed in Armageddon?
Jehovah has given judging over to his son. In John 3:16,17 gn it’s says “God did not send his son into the world to be its judge (condemn kjv ) but to be its savour”. Jesus also confirmed this in other comments and actions. In fact John 3:18-20 gn continues that it’s our reaction to the good news people who love the light the message and those who love the darkness. These ones love it that way, they moan about Satans world but still love it. In Noah’s day they “took no note” nwt they carried on there own private lives ignoring Noah’s 40yrs of preaching. Lots wife did not want to leave Sodom In verse 16 and 18 it says “believe” in nwt it says those who “exercise faith” because in James 2:19 ” do you believe in God? Good! The demons also believe – and tremble with fear. You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless. gn (good news version) Paul talked about blood guilt if he did not warn the wicked, he said “woe is me if I did not declare the good news” nwt. If people’s lives are not at stake then why bother, why preach? Why make deciples ? Why did Jesus talk about the goats going off to destruction? Mth 24:29:31 gn it talks of second coming of Christ (Armageddon ) he will send out his angels to gather his chosen people, this great crowd who come out survive the great tribulation as people on earth. In Jude 10-21 Christs half brother summerises the above, showing the issues of everlasting life and everlasting death face us at Armageddon as it was in Sodom and The Flood. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe we are the only ones who are saved if we did we would not preach, Gods Angels will gather those Christ labels as sheep and be delivered, those elect alive on earth will join Christ “in a twinkle of an eye” in heaven. Kjv says condemn not judge but confirms Jesus came to save all if they “believeth” in him. Must stop thank you, tomorrow going on field ministry. Thanks and God Bless.
Gasa,
EVERYONE will be brought back from the grave. The NWT have changed “ransom for all” to “ransom for all sorts of”. And “Graves” to “memorial tombs” then inserted the interpretation that only those in God’s memory will be resurrected. The whole purpose of the preaching work is to find the rest of the bride for Jesus. The parable of the sheep of the sheep and goats will take 1,000 years. There is only ONE calling in the Gospel age. There isn’t a calling to the earthly phase of the kingdom. If the entire New Testament is for the anointed when did Jesus ever show that there would be a secondary class to which his words won’t apply? When did the heavenly hope for Christians change to an earthly one? 1935?
Christofer Johns………Since it is Jehovah God’s arrangement that provides the “Ransom for ALL” Doesn’t he always reserve the right to wave the ransom for any who he deems unredeemable? Were the people that were so corrupted at the flood totally lost forever? This is the reasoning that is projected to JW’s as the urgency of preaching what is wickedness now. The scriptures do mention the danger of shipwreck of the faith. Of, course, the truth of the matter the preaching of the wonderful kingdom may now have been preached in all the world, but the lessons about what is wicked behavior are far more difficult to teach in this day because of the influence of satan and his helpers, visable and invisable. With them out of the way the only intelligent course would be to get behind YHVH’s program. With soo many dying every year, it is immposible to get the reeducation program to them now. The ransom for ALL is the only conclusion I can come to inspite of all of the pressure from JW’s teaching to neutralize it dynamic appeal.
Rena,
Do you believe in second death in this age? The Bible says “ALL” will come out of the tombs. Not “most” not “some” and not “all that didn’t…”. All means all. Second death is only brought about once brought out of the first death. Second death is only mentioned at the end of the millennium. Listen to the discourse from
Bob Carnegie “Is here second death in this age.”
Chris Johns,,,,,I’m just now working on this subject. Thanks for the tip. I got the feeling that not all of the bible students agree on this point. Am I correct or did I just jump to a conclusion because of my JW training? Any more talks you can think of please direct me to them Ok?
I would say that his talk uses the scriptures to prove this. I feel Rutherford used second death to get fear of them leaving the society. It stared in 1923 where he had a WT about the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats which shifted it from the millennial age to the Gospel age. This is why they believe they are sending people into second death. But if we look then second death is only mentioned in the end of the millennium. But I would say listen to his talk. It’s AMAZING.
Christopher,
This article that Rutherford wrote on the Sheep and the Goats is an interesting read. If you have the original article to this you’ll see the entire point of the article isn’t only the concept that they were “judging” people as a sheep or goat as they went door to door. The main thrust of the article Rutherford wrote is in regards to the wise and faithful slave mentioned in the 25th chapter. There the person who is rewarded asks the question “when did we help you?” and the response has the idea that “when you clothed me, when you fed me, when you visited me in prison….” Rutherford is basically saying in that article, “hey…I went to prison. This is all about me, and therefore this proves we are the only chosen channel of God and not all of the other Bible Student groups.” Rutherford goes on and on for pages about this idea. Very strange stuff.
Zion’s Herald,
So true. Notice how it’s always Christendom Clergy that he directs it toward.
I can’t find this talk. Please email the web site to me: renacifra@gmail sr. rena
Thanks for pointing this out. I just repaired the link. Try this: https://rec001.freeconferencecalling.com/mp3/1067074/991337/LAF3494_05182013160445859_1197325.mp3
If anyone else finds a broken link, please let us know so we can repair it. Thanks.
Gaza……..talk about blood guilt. How much blood quilt will YHVH’s hand out if our teaching program teaches people they don’t have to speak out against evil when they see it? Ezekiel third chapter. James says the mouth sets aflame the fires of Gehennah. hummm does that means everyting I say verbally or in the printied literature I distribute can have a long term effect of people? Is this something I should be very careful about? Are there any official positions that people have to accept as coming from YHVH himself that are not really substantiated in the holy word of God? Will we cast off people we preach to and their fellowship if they don’t totally agree with our particular interpretation? Remember it is not what goes into a personas mouth that defiles them………but what come out. Preaching to people is serious business.
Gaza………you said: ” Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe we are the only ones who are saved if we did we would not preach, Gods Angels will gather those Christ labels as sheep and be delivered, those elect alive on earth will join Christ “in a twinkle of an eye” in heaven. Kjv says condemn not judge but confirms Jesus came to save all if they “believeth” in him.”
The qualifying word you used was the word “IF”. Your gave everybody hope in the above scripture and then took it away from unbelievers in the word “IF”. Faith is not the possesion of all of mankind, that is true, however the message is still very plain that ALL of Adams brats are bought back by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. YHVH isn’t like a the fast talking lawyers who give everything in the big letters, and then take it all away in the little letters. He is a straight shooter all the way. Our God is not a man that he should lie.
Tasha, I was thinking about out conversation on making sure we make the right decision for our children and not jeopardize their salvation.
The whole theology of the witnesses is wrong and that is why Br.Franz suggested they start over.
In Ezekial Jehovah shows that no human decides the salvation of another. In the new system ALL will learn the truth and stand or fall for themselves before God in judgement day during the little season when satan is let out of the abyss.
The governing body believes you have to earn salvation but it is a free gift paid for with the blood of Christ. You don’t save your kids, Jesus does.
Witnesses can’t enjoy the love of Christ and the power of Jehovah because they are trying to stay out of hellfire Armageddon that puts everyone in it except people sitting physically within an organization that substitutes for the blood of Christ.
The moral compass of the governing body is off. It consists of billionaires living better than the pope and therein lies the problem. Power and money are opposed to God. The elders have power and basically nothing else. They wield it.
Hitler never killed anyone, he got others to do it and this made them remain loyal to him. Child and women sacrifice in the blood issue is more the bidding of the God Molech in the Bible. In Jeremiah Jehovah says such sacrifice never came up into his mind.
So let you 17 year old go with her grandmother but you also talk to her about what you and your husband are learning. Don’t let them rule what you say in your house.
Also may I suggest you never meet with their “so called” judicial committee ( a legal term requiring you have a lawyer) Never give a bunch of power hungry men such authority over you. You have a husband who can run his household without those men telling his wife and children what to do. You are adults and know the delicate personality of your children.
Hopefully Jeff is connecting with your husband.
But don’t worry Jesus got this already. He said I will come again. Focus on him and not the power hungry governing body of the so called Jehovah witnesses. Jehovah is a Good God and has saved man from death of the inherited sin of Adam.
Please feel free to ask any questions here or add and discuss any topic. You may call me at anytime and remember, leave on your terms, just walk! NO human owns you like cattle. This will help you mentally in a long run to say, ” no, I wasn’t disfellowshipped, I left on my own decision”. Keep the power over your body and family. Take Care Tasha and may God be with you as you struggle to come to Christ.
PS: I will get info to you on how to attend the 6 day General convention beginning this Saturday. Jacqueline
Also if you leave on your terms it makes you a victor not a victim of unfair treatment. So important to mental health.
Jackueline, Thank you for taking time to talk. The bible makes so much more sense since i stopped using jw “study guides”. I love this newfound understanding of the bible. It was so complicated before because what i was hearing and reading was contradictory to what the bible says.i also realize how little i actually know about the bible after being raised jw. I now enjoy bible study now.
Tasha,
This is the post I was talking to your husband about yesterday evening.
https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/2016/04/05/may-18-after-armaggedon-who-will-survive-who-will-be-destroyed/?replytocom=1384041#respond
The MP3 is found here —
http://rec001.freeconferencecalling.com/mp3/1067074/991337/LAF3494_05182013160445859_1197325.mp3
As I stated in the enjoyable discussion with your husband yesterday evening, God’s grace is bigger than the Jehovah’s Witnesses make it out to be. The actual outcome of the battle of Armageddon will bring peace on earth to all. God’s grace is big enough to allow all an opportunity in his kingdom, not just this group, or that denomination, but all.
“When God’s judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:9.
Tasha and it will get better, the Holy spirit of God is indeed able to teach us. There is so much POWER IN PRAYER!! Talking to our Father and Jesus without having to worry about what the organization thinks or say. You can talk to God. It will cause you to just walk through the house saying Thank you Holy One all day until you exhale. I cried tears of joy at first a lot. I was just so happy finding our brothers and being allowed to express how I saw a scripture without some sort of punishment if it didn’t line up with what 9 men said, was so refreshing.
I have been packing and getting things ready to attend the convention. Did you get my email with all of the info?
I will call you one day and stand in front of the camera and wave. Yep you will see a lot of that.
So nice to see you happy. It makes us happy. We will stand with you until you get on your spiritual feet and take off RUNNING IN THE SPIRIT, helping others come to Christ! See you Saturday. Tomorrow I travel all day.
Sister Jackie,have a good trip to the convention.From what I read here it seems that the JW couple are going to attend as well.We both know how they will feel once they find the Truth That Sets us Free!God Bless,Sister Jackie,Sister Kay & I plan to be there next year!
Brothers, the life of a Christian has it ups and downs.Sufferings then a let up and happiness. Such a range of emotions. I will pray for emotional peace for all and please pay for me to be able to breath deeply, exhale in the Spirit and go on with life.
My family left today, it was very beautiful, only had one grandbaby and I praise and thank him for this blessing. Jehovah and Jesus is good indeed. My son was so loving to me, he is my oldest and is doing what a son should do. Honor his father and his mother.
Now to get ready for a feast at General.
It was very interesting to listen. I only got half of it but will do the rest of it later. Picture where witnesses leave smiling from armageddon and other humans die behind of them, doesnt make any sense. That brought my mind a Bible verse from Genesis 9:11-17. If Jehova made covenant with all the flesh then why would He kill people in Armageddon as JW’s teach?
Hi there all and faithful,
Don’t those wearing the label Christian (anointed) just love the envisaged Donner und Blitzen of that all-out war Armageddon where evil shall find its comeuppance? Wow!
Why is it that Christians preach Israel’s locales and experiences to be but shadows and fore-gleams of heavenly realities and then decide to make the valley, mount or whatever Megiddo and the battle therein/on an earthly event, with the witnesses in past referring to it at times as a condition or situation? The latest I have on that is located here:
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/battle-of-armageddon/#?insight%5Bsearch_id%5D=30c2d186-4edd-4f08-ae98-7430c6c542d0&insight%5Bsearch_result_index%5D=1
Which definitely makes that a global earth-wide event in their wild estimation.
That is as much a fear-based cudgel to beat the flock into submission as is hellfire and other fear-inspiring control mechanisms.
Alas, the historical battles in those literal Megiddo environs are naught but a shadow of forthcoming heavenly realities when the kings of the earth: Satan and the demons* are gathered into their 1000-year prison of temporary immutability. They shall fight like hell to prevent that from happening wherever they are, hiding on earth and environs to where the Christ and his angels have restricted them.
* Remember Satan offering ALL the kingdoms of the earth to Jesus because
they were his, also the various princes referred to by Daniel who were
associate or influencing rulers of a variety of ancient kingdoms?
An earthly Armageddon is nothing but the fear-merchant’s darling toy to keep their flocks submissively servile.
We, as in humanity, have nothing to fear from Armageddon other than perhaps some collateral damage as these monstrous idiots resist their capture.
And anyway, perfect love throws fear outside, eh?
Dieter G.
Hi Dieter, always nice to hear from you. Your post is encouraging.
Hellfire is more merciful than the witness view of Armageddon. They show little children on bicycles being thrown alive into the earth while they hide in basements. What a delusions bunch of men. It is as if they are mind blinded. Where do they get these pictures. There are no sciptures to back up judgement day of mankind at Armageddon. All is referring to rulership of the earth. I will go to your links and read when I finally get back home.
An excellent broadcast. It answered a lot of my questions and reinforced my belief in the Truth. This makes much more sense than the JW teaching. Listening to the broadcast brought up a thought. In the questions following a JW sister brought up a question about “what if I don’t have a heavenly calling, what happens to me after Armageddon” and the answer was that they would likely be preserved as part of the unfaithful and be given the chance for eternal life. That being the case this thought comes to mind: Since most rank and file JW’s are very sincere and zealous for Jehovah and already accept most basic truths set out in the bible, do you think they will have an easier time accepting the truth and attaining perfection in the new earth than those who have never known Jehovah or have been mislead by religions who have always disputed basic doctrine? Just a thought.
Ted, I used to think that way and it certainly will be a blessing and help to them on Paradise earth to know about this hope. Since leaving the witnesses I have come across people with profound Faith in Jesus in addition to being very sincere. They know a lot more of what is actually in the Bible than most of us as witnesses did. We knew basic scriptures that supported the teachings of the witnesses including wrong ideas such as their armageddon hellfire doctrine.
The persons that teach hellfire are no worse than their concept of armageddon. These people believe deeply in Jesus and know exactly what he did for us. The witnesses know about the two hopes and 144,000.
I guess what I am trying to say is they have no more of an edge than anyone else. I can see the GB not being in heaven and rebelling or maybe not. Everyone will have an equal chance. With a thousand years for all to learn the edge of knowing will not figure in at all. They will have to overcome being deceived by an organization as will others who might be angry for the way they might have died etc.
So to me the equalizer of time will be the edge. That’s my take on this. I also believe no religious body now has all truth. We are all still learning and search for the truth about God and don’t have the truth but searching finding and conforming to it. Take Care
Hello. Just a quick thought, that brings to mind a scripture that Jw’s use often that I always found interesting. Rev 12:9 speaking of satan misleading the entire world or entire inhabited earth.. I agree with you t Jacqueline that no one group has all truth as the mixture of falsehoods since the apostles and the working of satan has i think truly deceived all, some more than others. So when Jw say they alone have truth it certainly does not fit with the thought they use this scripture often as a basis for.
Lee
Lee I was listening to a brother give a talk on the App and he brought out the same Point that Bible (s)tudents don’t have the truth, they are seeking the truth about God which is a task that is unmeasuable. God constantly reveals himself. Even the Apostle got things wrong and they had the truth ONE right with them. He didn’t accuse them of wrong doctrine . Sometimes he helped them to reason on the answer with a parable, sometimes he asked the question.
I am positive the Apostles didn’t understand as much as us. As Daniel wrote but didn’t understand.
Only humans expect for perfection of thought. The watchtower governing body coined the phrase “half-truths”. What a crazy phrase. It is just people telling it like they understand it even as they also are doing. Although they claim they are never wrong. The Cross is just one example. The whole world got that one right except the witnesses. They didn’t realize it is for a painful tortuous death not one that takes place in 15-30 minutes. He has to hang there for the full length of time to die for different ones at different hours. Most of t6he other religions got that important critical point correct. So time of 1,000 years is the great equalizer as it is now with death, the rich,poor and dogs die the same death if given enough time. I learn more now since I listen to many other men and their thoughts. The witnesses made us think we are so stupid that we will stumble if we hear someone else’s thoughts. We are hear something and filter through it. Like our conversations here, we are free to express ourselves and bring up subjects.
Ted R would have been labeled if he suggested that witnesses had an edge. He would have had to say witnesses would be the teachers and the leaders of the resurrected dead. They didn’t understand that millions perhaps billions will survive right along with witnesses through armageddon.
Which talk was it the brother talked about bible students not having the truth but seeking? Would like to check that out. I love the talks and yea being able to openly and FREEEly discuss scriptures again is beyond the words I have the ability to express.
Lee Anthony I listen to blocks of talks every night from the app and especially ones 20-30 years back. So I can’t say which brother it was. But I appreciated his candor and admission that we like the apostles and early Christians don’t know all the truth about God, Jesus and the entire plan of God. Sorry I didn’t catch that speakers name.
The only point to my question, and it was a question not a statement, was that the witnesses would not have to relearn many of the basic doctrines and therefore may have an easier time accepting certain truths than some who never learned the truths of Christ. I appreciate Sister Jacqueline’s answer to that question and after consideration I can see her point and do not by any means disagree. I am still learning and sometimes the old viewpoints just don’t want to go completely away. I just finished reading Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz. An excellent book. I am now convinced more than ever that I am on the right track. One does not have to belong to a large organization to be close to Christ. It is more important to develop a Christlike personality and have a personal relationship with him and his inspired word. This is what I appreciate about the Bible Students. They put Gods word first and do not ostracize an individual over minor disagreements of thought.
Ted I agree with you that a personal relationship is what Jesus death was about also. In the book of John before he leaves he tells his disciples that they have never asked anything in his name but now they could and his Father would answer. In fact he said he would do it if asked in his name. He was speaking to Individuals here and collectively to all of his followers of believers in Christ not neccessarily believers in God only but his disciples.
I speak with other believers and many understand there will be an earthly ressurrection and easily see other aspects when you approach them as a student of the Bible rather than someone knocking on their door to change their views. Some of these people heartfelt love of God and reliance on Jesus words brings one to their knees.
BTW, you can outright disagree on this site and with Bible students and all are okay. It has tickled me because they can pull out scriptures to prove their point with energy and him!
I will be back on Wednesday next week. I just had to stop and spend time with my little sister during this time.
She was married 31 years and her husband was sick 28 of those. He had a tumor working its way thru his brain 3 years after they married. She cared for him during many surgeries, strikes and all sorts of things with minimum help. She worked midnites while he slept but took care of him during daylight. She spontanerously went out to lunch and shopping with her daughter for the first time in over twenty years.
She begged the brothers to come by during day or evening and sit with him but they never would. A local Church built in 4 hrs a porch and ramp two weeks before he died. They prayed with her holding hands and she felt their love and concern. Her husband loved going to the kingdom hall as the brother mentioned in his talk but they called often to see if he had at least 15 min of time to report. This angered them when he just could walk and hardly audible for years. I will stay close to her and hope to take her with me to a BS convention. She helps us with new releases here. Take Care
Hello Ted,
This is Brandon, aka Lee Anthony on the site, I would never use my real first name before but now it no longer bothers me, though I still like Lee its a family name.
Anyways, good talking and hearing from you last night, that was my first time on the study though I wanted to join months ago just never was able to as I was having a sort of mental block. The book crisis of conscience was one of the first things I read, I followed it up immediately with Franz’s book in search of christian freedom. I highly recommend that one also if you havent started it already. Also just to add to what Jacqueline has said, my own experience with waking up caused a lot of issues in the beginning with my wife who was a pioneer at the time who has never known anything but Jw when it comes to religion. Things are better now, she is waking up as well and no longer wishes to go to the hall but has much to loose if she leaves completely so is trying to figure things out. Anyways I was very over the top at first and it did not go well, If I gave any advice at all I would just say take it slow if you do decide to say anything at all.
Lee
Brandon what a giant step. These are the necessary steps to finally get free. Taking back your identity is important. Hooray! Jesus said his Father would send the Helper, his Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
As a witness we are taught to rely on angels instead of Holy Spirit.
We didn’t realize we had access directly to Jehovah God thru Jesus.
When elders visit me I treat them as equals not as a publisher or below them, it gives me my power back my identity. They did’nt invite me to the Kingdom hall on the last visit because he saw I was free and no fear of him although the Circuit Overseer was in the car and the street full of witnesses.
I walked in the kingdom hall this week and took care of flower arrangement programs and all knowing that 30 elders had called the society at my brothers funeral a year ago to see how they were to handle this apostate. I spoke and treated them as if nothing was wrong even shaking hands not extended. They know my sister needed me, we are very close.
God will help you all get to that point.
There is another side to letting everybody know. Some saw I didn’t give in to Bullying and held my head up among my childhood congregation city in Birmingham and it has given a few the courage to just walk out or speak out against things they don’t agree with. A few elders gave me the smile of approval and a wink.
22 congregations broke away already in Texas and Florida. The thing is to get free so God can work in us. You will find as you get free he will give you lots of work to do. Door to door is a piece of cake compared to the work of helping others. Tell us when the Spirit enjoins and let you know that the race for the upward call is on. It will be a beautiful experience. Take care.
Thanks Brandon it was a pleasure hearing you on the study. I appreciate your advice. I met with a Brother from the Akron Ecclesia last night. We had a wonderful conversation and he is going to get me the information so that I can attend the memorial with them. Jehovah seems to be blessing my efforts. I feel closer to him now than I have in 48 years of being a JW. I had always felt pressure to go in service but I did it because it was expected. I threw myself into the pioneer work and told myself I enjoyed it, although honestly what I enjoyed was being with my friends in the car groups. I do enjoy giving talks and doing research. I guess it was doing research that made e realize the truth. I leave things in Jehovah’s hands. I am careful who I direct my personal beliefs to and will slowly try to help my wife understand the that the Bible takes precedence over the Watchtower. Thanks again.
Ted I want to say something before I forget it. It is crucial I think.
You used your mind and have come out without discussion with your family.
I suffered because I thought some of the elders and mature ones in my family could see some of the issues. Plus with me even they knew the society was wrong and I easily got a restraining order.
I WOULD SAY TO ALL TO DO AS YOU ARE DOING. DON’T discuss your views with your family. This got me on their bad side. They would have rather I not say anything. In hindsight I now realize that it does no good to talk to a witness but a lot of good to speak to those that have awakened and started to search for a voice with God thru Jesus and not the governing body.
One of my relatives prayed over breakfast every morning and it was an idolatrous prayer for the GB,pioneers, CO and the organization. He said for we know it is thru the org and the GB that we get to know you. I zoned out during this 5 min tirade every morning.
So if anyone is reading, don’t tell your relatives and friends until they wake up. It will save you a lot of trouble.
Jacqueline,
May I say Amen! Very wise advice indeed. I, too, have learned this lesson all too painfully.
The old saying goes, “A Man “Convinced” against his will, is of the same opinion still.”
In the Words of someone else that I consider very wise, “No one should be learning (aka “taught”) things they do not yet see a need to learn.”
Why, even Jesus said, “There are many things I wish to say to you (before I return to heaven) but you cannot bear them at present.”
Paul said, “Let your words be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
And Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples on a silver tray.”
And Solomon said, “There is… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;”
Wisdom comes in at knowing what time it is.
-greg
AMEN!Amen!
The Revelation 14:6-8 OPEN SALVATION CALL heads the final warning campaign to emerge from JW org destruction as Daniel 8:13-14 leads there.
You can watch JW org go down on CNN soon.
Hi Chuck Russell, thanks for commenting. Would you tell us a little about yourself. How did you find this site? You are welcome here. Jacqueline
Thanks for the invite, excuse the size but I want to give a thorough purpose. If not for God, Christ and Russell (and others), I wouldn’t be here, thanks guys!
I am a wandering sheep as far as Zech13:7 and human shepherds of Zech 11 are concerned. But the real shepherds God and Christ are hard at work. I am Jehovah’s witness and that of Jesus Christ too, as in a TASK TO COMPLETE not a “religious” label. I was labeled a JW until 2012 where in the Memorial was my “last meeting” I had to Matthew24:15 split the UN NGO and GB “disgusting thing” now infecting the JW ministry.
I have and want to speak to Bible Students because they have the root understanding and others, about the future Daniel 8:13-14 which will use the JW disaster now and the worse one coming to begin the final warning cycle based on Daniel 8:14 timing and Dan8:26 event phasing which will become extremely believable after the JW org is globally desolated. (Zech3:1-5; Rev8:1-8)
I believe in the Rev14:12 FAITH of Jesus Christ, not a religion for the word is unbiblical and corporate, it is a FAITH that BILLIONS of people are trying to observe.
The Messianic Kingdom has yet to complete and take rule (Rev14 final sequence), as does 8th King “scarlet wildbeast” world government (Rev17:8-13) which precedes the Christ arrival to get very very clear over the final Isa38 15 years or so from the time of JW org going down (starting sign) as Dan8:13 in the Daniel 11:41-43 maturing global context.
The final priority message is the OPEN SALVATION GUARANTEED OFFER that ANYONE WILLING CAN BE SAVED to come from some of Christ’s 1000 Trillion+ angels at Revelation 14:6-8 timing after Christ arrival, for he saves sheep first, then he conquers for the world rulership authority.
Charles Russell gets to complete his work, but he aint a human any longer, and Jesus Christ completes his own ministry in person too for they are the same message (Matt10:23), but Jesus is “in person” as the Mighty God and he employs Rev9:13 “eagles” which Russell is one to aid his completion, that is Jesus Christ MUST complete his own ministry (and he helps Russell complete his, and that is the truth), and he is the one that removes the sword of division and unifies all believers AFTER he arrives.
In the meantime, divisions is the best way to spread the news of Jesus Christ as controversy gets people more engaged as does unity and comfort which just makes sinful man complacent. Thus, anyone developing faith is welcome in “Christ Angel Camp” come Armageddon and the door open via Revelation 14:6-8 from super-human aid in some angels who WILL bring that opportunity to all people.
(Christ is helping all his earthly slaves and in-spirit-form anointed who conquered in Rev6:9-11 (Rev13:9-10) to also complete their ministry as they have to be involved with the final warning because for the first time since 33-70CE it has to call the future 8th King final indications BEFORE they occur into world government so the most people can benefit, it is 1260 days too, 1260past, 1260future, two witnesses 2 times, 1260×2=2520 DAYS, 3.5 timesX2=7Times as Rev11 also has a “seven times” allowance that STARTED in 1914.)
So I am not a “doomsdayer” (Rev13:3), it runs the full course of prophecy to world government then Christ arrival (Rev13:3,15-18; Rev17:8-18; Dan11:44-45; Dan8:25; Rev16:1-20; Rev8-11), and I have to speak a very huge open salvation offer to all mankind who can hear it.
Thanks for the welcome. Agape in Christ and God Almighty
Keep your eyes on JW org, it is going down HARD, it will be accounted, it will be catastrophic and on CNN too boot. (Dan11:41; Dan8:13-14; Zech3:1-5; Rev8; Mal3:1-5; 1Pet4:17)
It is for a global signal. (Isa28)
Oops, Rev8:13 “eagle”.
I found the site a while ago but was on other jw forums and that search is how I found this site, plus I like the history of Russell and I know Christ is not as narrow as human “org” tries to make it all seem so I find Bible Students very interesting due to our history as Christians in this big work since Abel and on and on to the objective: Christ and then God. (1Cor15:24-28)
Hello brothers, I am a JW and just listened to the recording. I really appreciated it and made much more sense to me than what the organisation teaches. In fact, I mentioned it to my wife about this. She even said it makes sense. Thank you for this web site. It is so encouraging. Joe
Hi Joe and welcome. When you listen to or read all of the armageddon talks it makes sense that it is Jesus taking down all the systems and putting in His kingdom. He will rule in the midst of his enemies and every knee will bow before him. But he offers them the truth about their situation and a way to get from under what man has endure for thousands of years. God said he does not make a child pay for the sins of a parent or vice versa. Killing little children forever because a parent didn’t search for a witness and obey the governing body was always unfair to me, so I worked, ignoring the needs of my family sometimes to conduct 12 studies a week to save them. Now I have peace and I hope you ask questions and convince yourself that there is hope for all of Adam’s offspring.
The brothers on here have gone thru what you have and understand. Br. Peter has never been a witness but is a Bible student elder that have understood the phight of those coming out and along with other brothers and the support of the Chicago Bible class has made this site possible.
Ask honest questions, or parts in the articles you can’t quite agree with, we will try to see if we can help. But really you don’t have to agree with everything you read or hear here. On some points it is knowledge and discussion for us to think about and add to our knowledge. Again welcome Joe. Jacqueline