Beyond the Watchtower
Looking to our Past for lessons to help inform our Future
Our new logo of the original Watchtower cross and crown supports our subtitle “Looking to our Past – For lessons about our Future. Find more out the Watchtower history of the cross and crown by clicking here:
WHY THE NAME CHANGE FROM “FRIENDS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES” TO “BEYOND THE WATCHTOWER?” New redirected website address is — BeyondWatchtower.com.
First an introduction: We are Bible Students who since the early Watchtower days have continued to meet together in congregations around the world. We retain, continue to study, and offer to others, the original Watchtower writings and literature, which we enjoy as wonderful resources to help understand and harmonize the Bible’s teachings. Some of us created the “Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses” website in an attempt to reach out in the spirit of Christian love and friendship, both to struggling Jehovah’s Witnesses and to Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Why are we reaching out?
A. We hope to provide a safe haven website of help, support, encouragement, open conversation and as well an information center.
B. We hope to provide for your consideration, the enduring, valued, spiritual light of truth that shone forth so brightly in the early days of the Watchtower ministry. In the spirit of Christian love and liberty, we extend to you this invitation to study, not with an autocratic ORGANIZATION controlled by a “Governing Body,” but rather with fellow Christian students of the Bible in the spirit of the Berean’s (Acts 17:11).
C. We hope to share with you areas of our common roots and the true history and the original mission of the early Watchtower Society. In its early days, it operated as a publishing house. It had absolutely NO authority over any of the hundreds of independent congregations which were controlled solely by the congregation members themselves; not by domineering elders, overbearing overseers or a dictatorial Governing Body. In those days each elder could only remain in office if at the annual elections they received 75% of the vote from the Holy Spirit anointed congregation members voting based on the Biblical qualifications for elder (1 Tim 3 and Titus 1).
So why the name change to “Beyond the Watchtower.”
Some visitors to our site have had the mistaken impression that by calling ourselves “Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses” that this meant we were in agreement with the new doctrines and the oppressive and controlling spirit of the organization itself and its governing structure as well as its historical practice of shunning questioning members, and the resultant dividing of families. Dear brothers and sisters, nothing could be further from our true heart’s desire. These types of practices were never to be found among the original Watchtower friends prior to 1917.
Our new name “Beyond the Watchtower” contains a dual meaning which helps clarify our mission:
1: To help, support and encourage present JWs looking BEYOND todays Watchtower or else former JWs AFTER leaving the JW Organization. We would like to provide the type of support as shared in A & B above, to help those presently questioning or struggling with their relationship in the J.W. Organization and who may even have endured and suffered from spiritual and emotional wounds.
2: As described in C above, to provide an accurate historical account of events that took place BEYOND or AFTER the early Watchtower” days when a new organization emerged under new leadership, dramatically changing its beliefs and practices.
In these early Watchtower days, many of the original Bible Students refused to accept the new and changed teachings. Nor would they be controlled by and surrender their Christian liberty to this new and very tough leader, Joseph Rutherford. These Bible Students broke away from the new and emerging JW organization and either maintained or reestablished Bible Student congregation’s worldwide. By 1931, 75% of the Original Bible Students had left this new organization which in that year adopted the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in order to draw a clear line of distinction from those who had left the Society and those who remained.
The Bible Students as a Christian fellowship still meet together to the present day as free and independent congregations retaining their original beliefs and practicing the same spirit of Christian liberty as was adhered to during the early Watchtower days up through October of 1916 when Brother Russell died.
With these true, loving and encouraging wishes for you, we hope that this website aids you, our visiting brothers and sisters, to find satisfying answers to questions you may have. We hope this site can be an educational, healing center, a safe harbor for achieving a healthy emotional state, a place for spiritual growth in a manner that faithfully follows the scriptures and a place where all of our combined efforts will be found pleasing and honoring to the name of Jehovah, our loving and merciful Heavenly Father.
We hope that a journey with you to the not so distant past will bring you fresh hopes of Jehovah’s kindness and mercy to us today as well as for the bright and wonderful tomorrow that He has promised for all mankind through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
We continue now with our original WELCOME message below.
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
WELCOME TO THIS CITY OF REFUGE
AND SANCTUARY FOR STUDIOUS AND INQUIRING MINDS.
Acts 17:10, 11: Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be-roe’a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes-sa-lo-ni’ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. – NWT
You are anonymous here. You can speak to other Jehovah’s Witnesses, former Jehovah’s Witnesses, Bible Students and other Christians. When posting your comments, you will be able to use a Pen Name. Your e-mail address and website info are completely optional. No one can identify you. No one can report you. You have a home and quiet place to pray and honestly investigate scriptures. It is not our purpose to indoctrinate you, but merely to provide you with resources for further study of Jehovah’s word. You are not alone. You have friends.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand. – NWT
2 Tim 1:7 (Amplified Bible) – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm {and} well–balanced mind {and} discipline {and} self–control.
Gal 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NKJV
Gal 5:13 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. NKJV
2Co 3:17 – …where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. NWT
John 8:31, 32 – And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free. NWT
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?
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 you were the true Faith you wouldn’t citizens any other faith.you are meant to be footstep followers of Jesus Christmas. Take a good look at yourselves be for talking about any one else.
Anonymous – Thanks for commenting. I am not sure I understand what you haved said? Do you feel we are criticizing? Can you give a specific example of what you object to and we can consider your concern and even discuss it with you if you would like. Thank you.
I wanted to share this with everyone & I hope you find it uplifting, I was inspired to write this as part of a response to a question that someone had asked me . . . .
Trust in Jehovah God:
Sometimes there are certain things we cannot comprehend but only God Almighty understands. This is where having faith comes into the equation. Just as a newborn baby is held for the first time in the arms of his or her mother, it is from that very first moment that the little baby puts it’s unconditional trust & faith in it’s mother, the baby doesn’t think about it as it is instinctive, generated by the natural bond that is between them both, that unconditional love.
Just as the baby chick will follow the mother hen wherever she goes, just as a young son looks upon his father as a his hero, his role model, his protector.
Should we then not become like a child with regards to our Father in Heaven? Yes of course we should! We should put faith & trust in Him no matter what, we should love Him no matter what, we should worship Him no matter what, unconditionally!
Just as parents give unconditional love & express unconditional love for their children, so then, does not our Father in Heaven offer & give the same to us as we are His children? Yes of course He does! He does so in abundance, much more than we could ever comprehend!
So then, put your trust in Him whole heartedly for He knows our wants & our needs even before we do, be patient with Him as He is patient with you & I.
There are some things we just do not know or understand or comprehend but our Father in Heaven knows!
God Bless!
Warm & loving regards,
Daz
I love this site. I sudden.y do not feel alone. Only problem is there is so much information here, I have no idea where to start. I just feel blessed knowing Jehovah loves me and will always take care of me. So glad you are all here.
Hi Maggie, so nice having you comment. There is a ton of information on here. We try to help those looking for spiritual blessings. I enjoyed our conversation today and am resting up a bit from my visits by relatives. I did all the cooking for the family as they visited all the other relatives around here. Their traffic is horrific they say.
Tell us a little about you if you will to give a starting point. What you wrote to us in contact could be a start.
BTW some of us here are not all Bible Students but generally there is a Jehovah Witness connection. You will see all comments to the right and newly posted articles and immediate announcements top right. I was bouncing between two convention in Kentucky, San Diego and the Sunday Chicago ecclias, plus my family was in and out. Tomorrow should be a quiet day.
I will call you tomorrow to help you with the Christian resources App if you like listen to what the Bible says on the subjects also.
Welcome and feel free to comment. In Christian fellowship, Jacqueline
Hi name is Shannon been disfellowshiped ten years try to go back being shunned hurt to much lost both my parents was shunned at funeral jws are not the truth for pastor Russell taught truth they broke of from truth god has shown me this that Russell was bible student not a Jehovah’s wittness then Jehovah lead me hear thank u Jehovah
Shannon- Sorry for the pain you have experienced for so many years. Did Jesus shun? Did the Apostles shun?
Luke 7:34 (NASV) “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'”
Jesus did not shun the sinners.
Matt 18:21-22 (NASV) “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Jesus told us to forgive, not to shun.
2 Cor 1:3-5 (NASV) “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”
Look to Jehovah and your brothers and sisters here for comfort.
I have another question: The predictions of Charles Taze Russell about 1874, 1879, 1914 and 1915 proved to be wrong, Why then someone have to believe in a false prophet like him?
Javier – Thanks for joining us on the site. Yes, I agree with Sister Jacqueline that Brother Russell never claimed to be a prophet. I would rather speak with you about scriptures and I hope we do. However since you asked about Brother Russell, I will respond.
First of all 1874 was not a future prediction. About 1877 Brother Russell looked backward in time and began publically teaching that Jesus had invisibly returned in 1874. Hence, you can accuse Brother Russell of a false historical application of a prophecy, however, that is not a false future prediction. Hence to call him a false prophet on account of 1874 is clearly not accurate. Why did he conclude that Jesus had returned in 1874? The reasons are explained in Volumes 2-4 of Studies in the Scriptures. I personally agree the scriptures teach that Jesus returned in 1874, just as I agree that the Daniel 9 Seventy Weeks prophecy indicted Jesus first Advent as Messiah at the end of the 69 weeks (7 x 69 = 463 years which when added to 454 BC brings you to 29 AD when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist).
As Daniel 12:1 & 4 teaches,that as a result of Jesus return:
1) Knowledge increased (I.e. Internet, mobile phones, computers, etc.)
2) Travel increased (automobiles, trains, plains, etc.)
3) We have been in a great time of world wide trouble (WWI,WW2, Cold War, Terrorism, global economic trouble, etc.)
4) Israel restored as a nation
5) Book of Daniel finally understood and explained in Volume 3)
I believe that all these events have been caused by Jesus’ Second Presence. If you disagree, than can you explain to me what has caused these events?
Javier – If Jesus returned tomorrow, how would you know he was present? Would the rest of mankind see that Jesus was present as well? How would they know?
Hi Peter, hope you are well. Regarding the signs you mentioned below although I do believe these are definately apparent in our world I also believe the definition of them are also very much spiritual signs. Let my explain my understanding of this.
I believe that Satan has created parallels with regards to these signs & others to decieve & mask what is actually happening spiritually.
Increase of knowledge: The following scriptures are clear in showing that these are not physical but are indeed spiritual signs: Isaiah Isaiah 11:9, “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea”, Also Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth,
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert”.
Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:10, “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”
Revelation 20:12. “Those five scriptures make clear that the increase in knowledge is not physical (cell phones, etc.). but is spiritual, based upon the opening (understanding) of God’s Word”.
Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Daniel 12:10 is clear in telling us that it’s only the Righteous ones the will understand this, again this is backed up what Mark 4:11 tells us, “And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables”. Also see at Luke 10:21, Luke 10:21 “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
I a not saying that the increase in the physical abilities to gain knowledge in this world has not contributed because I believe that it has with regards to sharing God’s word & Ministering because of the internet we can reach so many now, it’s truly amazing.
The tribulations we have endured in this time of the end are very prominent & does characterize the timeline we are living in but again these tribulations are also happening on a spritual level & again if we are not aware of this fact then we are in danger of being mislead & falling asleep as watchmen. We need to disern ALL things that are occurring. The anointed class are being attacked & some have been decieved, it really is vital that we are taking note of this fact as it is an important part of fulfillment of phophecy. The physical tribulation in the world is a mirror image so as to disguise the spiritual tribulations that are occurring.
The physical Israel being restored again is a mirrored sign of what is happening with regards to the spiritual Israel.
This is what I have come to understand.
Warm & loving regards,
Daz
Daz – Thanks. I appreciate that you are looking to the Bible for answers. I can only state my understanding and that does not prove I am correct. As Romans 14:5 says, ” Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
I know that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” 2 Cor 11:14. However, if as we look for signs of Jesus Second Presence, if Satan is able to counterfeit those signs, then wouldn’t that undermine God’s purpose in providing signs of Jesus presence to the Saints? As best as I can tell, Jesus takes Satan by surprise at His return. Satan is not prepared to successfully counter attack.
Matt 24: 43 (NKJV) “43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.”
It makes the most sense to me that the “…”householder” is our Adversary, the devil–“… blinding the minds of all that believe not–whose eyes of understanding have not been anointed with the Lord’s eye-salve of a clear understanding of God’s Word. (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 3:18)
Satan, although he has long known the Bible, has understood but little of it…because written in parables, symbols and figures of speech. Satan is not guided by the holy Spirit, and consequently much of the divine Word is foolishness to him
Your five scriptures are great and show God’s plan to provide righteous knowledge to mankind in the kingdom. To my mind, the time period seems to focus on the time of the end, which would mostly precede any kingdom blessings. (Daniel 11:40; 12:4) For the sake of argument, if I agree with you that my understanding is NOT correct, then I must assume that the apparent fulfillment we see around us so clearly is as you say a deceptive tactic of Satan, apparently to fool the Bible Students, while the Catholics, Baptist, Methodists, etc. correctly see the Second Presence as future (???). If true, then the JWs are not deceived, because they do not interpret Daniel 12 in the same way as Bible Students. So, in this scenario, Satan has gone through all this effort merely to deceive the few thousand Bible Students that exist around the world. If that satisfies you, then you must rely exclusively on your own judgement, I respect that. For me, there is an overwhelming abundance of various scriptures that indicate that at the time of the end, Jesus would provide a special dispensation of Truths to the Saints alive on earth during the beginning of His Second Presence. We cover those in various articles on this site.
Regarding Israel, do you think God’s promise to give Abraham the Land of Israel forever was conditional? When Jehovah promised the Land to Israel, what conditions were attached which may have resulted in God taking His promise back? God is not, as they say, an “Indian Giver” right?
Gen 13:14-17 (KJV) “14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
Jeremiah 31:35-37 NIV “This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that the waves roar — the Lord Almighty is his name: “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.” This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.”
Amos 9:14-15 (NASV) “14 “Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 “I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God.”
Hi Peter, thankyou for your reply, as usual you presented your understanding very well & with some great scriptual references too. I agree with you some-what, some of what I was saying here regarding the meaning of particular signs or what they represent some of which I have pointed out in the first post I made today to ‘Questions Needing Answers’. We must remember that Satan wants to mislead all of us that is why we must sought out Christ’s priestly ones for these are the ones that give us the spiritual food at the right time. The spiritual battle is not so obvious to most of us that’s why we need to discern what is happening with regards to the bride of Christ. Mark 4:34 tells us, “He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.” There was a reason for this, it is only those who are earnestly seeking truth that will find the answers, God, Jesus WILL reveal truth to those ones He choses. By knowing what the signs are in a spritual sense we can learn with regards to where prophecy is manifesting itself, for example Revelation 12:10,
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” This is happening now! This refers to the Anointed ones that have been oppressed or killed in a spiritual sense with regards to the organization. Matthew 25:45, “He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” We need to open our eyes & see, we need to use our ears & hear, Matthew 13:13 clearly shows this, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand!. Be on the watch for if we do not know what is happening with regards to the spiritual battle & it’s signs then we cannot observe where we are concerning prophecy timeline. These chosen anoited should be the ones who are feeding us spiritual food, but they have been prevented from performing vital life saving work. 1 Peter 2:9, “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”. Jesus’ illustration of the kingdom’s arrival is compared to a woman who is giving birth. The end time signs are likened to the woman’s labour pains – “But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains”-Matthew 24:8. This is the Greek meaning of “pangs” of distress. I am sure you already know who the woman is that is giving birth & what her birth brings fourth, also as we all know an actual birth takes place after the labour occurs & certainly not before or at it’s beginning. So we know now that the birth of the Kingdom obviously happens at the end of the woman’s labour pangs/pains, so the end time signs or as we discern it now, the labour pangs/pains all happen before the Kingdom of God arrives, it doesn’t occur after just as a real birth would happen after the labour. So Satan needs a diversion, he has to produce these counterfeit signs so as to try & mislead Christ’s brothers & sisters. This is how I have come to understanding it.
Warm & loving regards,
Daz
I am an ex Jehova’s Witness from Mexico and it is the first time I visit your website. My question is if defend all the teachings of Charles Taze Russell, especially the piramidology and the date of 1874 as the second presence of Christ
Hi Javier Avina and welcome, Br. Peter will read your comments shortly but here is a link on the site you might want to read before he answers.
https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/category/jesus-second-presence/
I have found coming from the Jehovah witnesses that I had everything wrong about what was expected at the turn of the century and have learned to appreciate no one is perfect and does not insist that you accept things that you haven’t proven for yourself. I found that even Br. Russell had some expectations that were not realized and also he lived in a different time period than us and we have seen the working out of some things he expected to happen quickly or wasn’t able to grasp.
So with an open mind you might just learn something about what really happened back there. (meanwhile another link to see before Br. Peter come on.)https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/category/bible-student-history/
Also Javier, I don’t think Br. Russell considered himself a prophet, perhaps you have a reference to it that I am not aware of and will share it with us, please.
If you can keep in mind we answer questions but you don’t have to accept it unless you prove it for yourself. Bible Students will still discuss other scripture without having to convince you to change your mind. I just thought I would say that so you will know the difference from the witness organization. Respectfully Jacqueline
Peter or Jacqueline
My wife asked me what do Bible Students do to find marriage mates because there are so few in comparison to witnesses? We have three children ranging from 19-24 so it’s an interesting question. Do you consider 1 Cor 7:39 a command to marry only believers?
1Cor 7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is alive. But if her husband should fall asleep in death, she is free to be married to whomever she wants, “only in the Lord”
Brettstone, I will defer to Br. Peter on this as in our family this is a problem with some of the females not being able to find a mate even within the JW religion. We all know this is so. There is I would suppose the same problem here. I personally believe the situation with the tribe fo Benjamin was put there for us. They had killed all the women and the tribe was going to die out. All the other tribes had sworn not to form marriage alliances with Benjamin but now their brother would die out. What was their solution? I will find the scripture and post it. I know the whole story by memory because many young sisters are not able to find a husband in side the JW org.
I don’t personally feel it is their trial to be single. It seems this trial only hits the sisters. From experience I can say many believers in the Christian religion that I have had close contact with had much better behaviour than many witness men and families are intact and they are faithful. So I will defer this to Br. Peter as I believe if they are not Muslim etc therefore not an acceptor of Christ that it could work. My elder brother once told me of a sister over the last fifty years have confessed to fornication over ten meetings. She has just slept with men but said it would be wrong to marry out of the truth. Never married by sixty five but has literally lived in a life of sin for 50 years on and off and confessing every 5 or so. I come to conclusions by reasoning out a situation, but many could clobber me with scriptures on this one. I just have Benjamite tribe.
Brettstone – Yes, we are a smaller group and as time progresses, it does become more difficult for the spirit begotten (anointed) to find a suitable mate. This would be our expectation since there are only 144,000 in the Bride of Christ and as that number nears completion there will be less of the anointed remaining on earth. However, that does not discourage us from reaching out with the message of Truth to any with open ears.
Some Bible Students have chosen to remain single, rather than to be “unequally yoked” (2 Cor 6:14). Others, do find a suitable spouse. However, when one chooses the path of spirit begettal / anointing / baptism into Christ’s body, then one chooses to sacrifices everything else for that one purpose (Phil 3:13) of fulfilling their covenant with Jehovah. Children who have not made that commitment, are not so deeply bound to obey to the same degree as their parents. The Bible Students in our exercise of liberty do not have penalties for those who marry outside of the Truth, though we do strongly advise to marry only in the Lord (1 Cor 7:39). We have found that those that marry outside the Truth are often hindered by their spouse who wants them to be equally yoked with them. In lessor instances, the spouse is supportive, which is a blessing. In any case, the brethren try to be supportive and encouraging in any way we can, once a decision is made. It has been sad to see many wander away from the Truth when the draw to their spouse was stronger than their commitment to the Lord.
The Apostle Paul was not married and he advised the brethren that this is the better path to full service to God. However, he did say it was okay to marry (1 Cor 7:28) and most do since it is too difficult not to (1 Cor 7:9).
1 Cor 9:5 (NASV) “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”
1 Cor 7:7 (NASV) “Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am.”
1 Cor 7:8 (NASV) “But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.”
1 Cor 7:17 (NASV) “Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.”
Thanks Peter.. Nice explanation! I figured that would be the case based on scripture and understand the point as well that the number of chosen is decreasing rapidly as the end approaches..
Brettstone now don’t you see why i should have not commented and left it to Br. Peter to answer. LOL. I noticed how he spoke for the consecrated. As a former witness you know we never looked at it this way. I like this one and am going to facebook and run with it. Thanks for asking that question. And Thanks Br. Peter for your scriptural answer.
Jacqueline…
Your understanding of where I’m coming from is why I included you in the question. 🙂
But Peter gave a nice thorough explanation, and I don’t blame you for standing back and waiting on that reply!!
Thank you very much for posting our link!
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus continue to bless your work.
Brothers:
Here’s the link for our website: http://estudantesdabiblianobrasil.wordpress.com
By the way, the link you currently have for a Portuguese site will not open…
All the best,
A.R.
Andrew Br. Peter will get with the technical guy to see about this. Thanks
Andrew Richard – Thanks. The Brazil website is posted. I am not sure what happened to the Portuguese website. Thanks for pointing it out. I will investigate.
Peter-
I have been searching for an answer to a question with regards to the timing to the parable of the SHEEP and GOATS. I actually asked you this question before but with so much going on I believe it got lost along the way.
Jesus stated how the separation would take place based on the treatment of his Brothers:
Matt 25:37 Then the righteous ones will answer him with the words: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 In reply the King will say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
During the 1,000 yr judgement how would this be? If Christ anointed brothers are ruling from heaven how would anyone come to their aid? How is this to be understood?
I understand that Christ sitting upon his throne (Matt 25:31) could only be in reference to the time of judging durring the mellinium (Rev 20:4) but I need explanation for how judgment would be connected to the treatment of his brothers because it appears that this treatment would be prior to the mellinium and therefore how is it connected or like most parables what is the point to be understood?
Dear Brettstone,
Hello and Greetings,
Though this site’s admin and perhaps some of the readers are party to my past, for you a quick rehash: A human male person, I have been a JW for 50 years, disfellowshipped in 2008 for allowing the Bible to teach me.
When the collecting of the 144000 saints, called or chosen ones are gathered into the heavenly Kingdom by the angels sent by the heavenly Christ (Matthew 24:29-31); an event not far now, not all those who had made themselves available and were anointed will qualify for a host of reasons.
Nothing wrong with goats. In Israel kids and goats could and were used instead of lambs/sheep. The difference is one of personality: lambs willingly yield to the shepherd, while goats can be a bit of a handful.
Since it is the flock of Jacob* who are Jehovah’s ultimate inheritance, (easy to research that yourself) goats are excluded during the final sorting process of Matt 25. More detail here http://www.sanctifyname.com/sheepgoats.html
*(the little flock of 144000 given the kingdom by Jehovah -Luke 12:32)
While not a native English speaker still needing to fine tune this page, and perhaps a few factual details, there should be enough substance to respond meaningfully to your sheep/goats question.
Cheers, Dieter
Thank you for that rehash, Dieter,
I’ve been a little ill of late and I am posting this from a hospital bed. So please forgive me if I haven’t followed up on things lately, I just wasn’t up to it lately because my allergies had kicked in and then I had an asthma attack last Thursday which sent me to the ER and admission to the hospital as a consequence. I may go home today or tomorrow, I’ll know when I see the doctor later today.
My best to you, friend.
Hi Stanley, sorry to hear that you are unwell, hope u recover very soon, take care.
Warm & loving regards,
Daz
Thank you Daz.
A few hours after posting my reply to Dieter they cut me loose from the hospital. I’ve still got some problems To deal with and will have to see a couple of doctors as fast as they’ll let me see them for follow-up. And I’ll have to try and take things easy and be careful. Rest will be important. But the important thing is that all things are in God’s hands and I will trust in him, whatever happens.
Dear Brothers:
I really appreciate your website; it is really a “city of refuge” and a “sanctuary” for those who truly are truth seekers.
I am a Bible Student from Brazil; together with Br. Lucio Bezerra (who represents the Dawn in our country), I’ve been helping with the translating work of The Dawn magazine and also some articles of The Herald.
Brothers, do you think it would be possible to include a link to my blog in your section “Foreign Language / Overseas”, in addition to the one already listed in “Portuguese”?
Warm Christian love,
A. Richard
Bro. Andrew Richard please post your link here so that we can take a look at it. Thanks. We like to post links for Bible Student websites from other countries.
Hello there Br. Andrew and stick around! We certainly hope you will find the site a blessing.
Hi, Br. Dupin! The site is indeed a blessing! Thanks!