25-07-2016 9:33 PM
He ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness.—Acts 10:42.All of us are subject to “the law of the Christ.” (Gal. 6:2) That law includes all that Jesus taught. Foremost among Jesus’ teachings is that his followers should display love. (John 13:35; Jas. 2:8) And one of the primary ways we show love for God, for Christ, and for our neighbor is by preaching the good news of the Kingdom. (John 15:10; Acts 1:8) Jesus commanded only a relatively small number of his followers—those to whom he appeared after his resurrection—to preach. (Acts 10:40-42; 1 Cor. 15:6) But all his faithful first-century disciples recognized that the command applied to them, even if they had not personally heard Jesus speak. (Acts 8:4; 1 Pet. 1:8) Likewise today, Jesus has not personally spoken to any of the eight million active Kingdom preachers. But all recognize their obligation to exercise faith in Christ and to express that faith by means of the witnessing work.—Jas. 2:18. w15 3/15 4:14, 15
23-08-2016 2:14 PM
@cee-dee wrote:Slip of the finger, it's Luke 14:26
Yes, thanks CeeDee,
There is a footnote against the word hate,. Which reads "or to love to a lesser degree,. Which changes the meaning slightly, stating we are to love Jehovah first. Family to be loved less than God.
MATHEW 24 1_ 51
Now as Jesus was departing from the temple, his disciples approached to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 In response he said to them: “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.”+
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence*+ and of the conclusion of the system of things?”*+
4 In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you,+ 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.+ 6 You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet.+
7 “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.
9 “Then people will hand you over to tribulation+ and will kill you,+ and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.+10 Then, too, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and mislead many;+ 12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold. 13 But the one who has endured* to the end will be saved.+ 14 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.
15 “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place+ (let the reader use discernment), 16 then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains.+17 Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house, 18 and let the man in the field not return to pick up his outer garment.19 Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! 20 Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; 21 for then there will be great tribulation+ such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.+ 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.+
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’+ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it.+ 24 For false Christs and false prophets+will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to mislead,+ if possible, even the chosen ones.25 Look! I have forewarned you. 26 Therefore, if people say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.+27 For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence* of the Son of man will be.+ 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.+
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened,+and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.+ 30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief,+ and they will see the Son of man+ coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.+ 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.+
32 “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near.+33 Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors.+ 34 Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.+
36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows,+neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.+ 37 For just as the days of Noah were,+ so the presence* of the Son of man will be.+38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,+ 39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away,+ so the presence of the Son of man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 41 Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned.+ 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.+
43 “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch* the thief was coming,+ he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.+ 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready,+ because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.
45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet* slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?+ 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so!+47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.
48 “But if ever that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’+ 49 and he starts to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know,+ 51 and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.+
Long chapter, don't suppose you will read but, parts in there is mentioning about false prophet, there will even be ones infiltrating Jehovah's people.
Satan's work, but he won't escape destruction, he knows he has little time left, and seeking to take as many as he can with him xxx
23-08-2016 2:20 PM
It's like watching Paint dry.
23-08-2016 2:30 PM - edited 23-08-2016 2:31 PM
Sorry, couldn't condense it lol xx
23-08-2016 2:33 PM
To me so much of the Bible says exactly what you would expect any holy book to say.
Though it does use a lot of words to say very little, it could be whittled down into just a few pages.
23-08-2016 3:50 PM
@**forum-decorum** wrote:
@cee-dee wrote:Slip of the finger, it's Luke 14:26
Yes, thanks CeeDee,
There is a footnote against the word hate,. Which reads "or to love to a lesser degree,. Which changes the meaning slightly, stating we are to love Jehovah first. Family to be loved less than God.
MATHEW 24 1_ 51
Now as Jesus was departing from the temple, his disciples approached to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 In response he said to them: “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, by no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.”+
3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence*+ and of the conclusion of the system of things?”*+
4 In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you,+ 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.+ 6 You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for these things must take place, but the end is not yet.+
7 “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.
9 “Then people will hand you over to tribulation+ and will kill you,+ and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.+10 Then, too, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and mislead many;+ 12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold. 13 But the one who has endured* to the end will be saved.+ 14 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.
15 “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place+ (let the reader use discernment), 16 then let those in Ju·deʹa begin fleeing to the mountains.+17 Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house, 18 and let the man in the field not return to pick up his outer garment.19 Woe to the pregnant women and those nursing a baby in those days! 20 Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the Sabbath day; 21 for then there will be great tribulation+ such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.+ 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.+
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’+ or, ‘There!’ do not believe it.+ 24 For false Christs and false prophets+will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to mislead,+ if possible, even the chosen ones.25 Look! I have forewarned you. 26 Therefore, if people say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.+27 For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence* of the Son of man will be.+ 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.+
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened,+and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.+ 30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief,+ and they will see the Son of man+ coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.+ 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.+
32 “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near.+33 Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors.+ 34 Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.+
36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows,+neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.+ 37 For just as the days of Noah were,+ so the presence* of the Son of man will be.+38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,+ 39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away,+ so the presence of the Son of man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. 41 Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned.+ 42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.+
43 “But know one thing: If the householder had known in what watch* the thief was coming,+ he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.+ 44 On this account, you too prove yourselves ready,+ because the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not think to be it.
45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet* slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?+ 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so!+47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.
48 “But if ever that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’+ 49 and he starts to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know,+ 51 and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.+
Long chapter, don't suppose you will read but, parts in there is mentioning about false prophet, there will even be ones infiltrating Jehovah's people.
Satan's work, but he won't escape destruction, he knows he has little time left, and seeking to take as many as he can with him xxx
Do people really believe this,, I have Snow White and the 7 bwarfs if you want to read the truth.
23-08-2016 3:53 PM
23-08-2016 5:35 PM
I read it FD....it is like watching paint dry! It's dry and dusty. But one thing....if you say the Son of God is coming, and coming soon by the sounds of it, how will you know him? If someone comes and says 'I am the Son of God' , there will be much hilarity. After all...it happened before. Didn't David Eycke (?spelling) say he was the Son of God, wearing a lovely turquoise shell suit? So...how will He convince you that he is the real thing?
23-08-2016 6:26 PM
Bearing in mind Jesus said he would return in the lifetime of the Disciples and there have been numerous claims of his imminent arrival over the centuries which all are conspicuous by their abject failures, I think we can safely say holding one's breath waiting for it is probably not a good idea
23-08-2016 6:42 PM
In fact, we're presuming Jesus is going to be white and middle class ( maybe even British ). If it turns out that he is in fact Black and arrives in Louisiana........then announcing he is the son of god, will mean he'll last about 5 minutes........if he's lucky.
23-08-2016 6:46 PM
23-08-2016 7:25 PM
@astrologica wrote:I read it FD....it is like watching paint dry! It's dry and dusty. But one thing....if you say the Son of God is coming, and coming soon by the sounds of it, how will you know him? If someone comes and says 'I am the Son of God' , there will be much hilarity. After all...it happened before. Didn't David Eycke (?spelling) say he was the Son of God, wearing a lovely turquoise shell suit? So...how will He convince you that he is the real thing?
Sorry astro more reading, if you genuinely want the answer, this will answer you better than I can. Xx
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20150501/the-end-bible/
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/what-is-judgment-day-1000-year-reign/
Jesus comes as a judge on behalf of Jehovah who is the ultimate Judge. He will not arrive in the flesh on earth but as he is now as a spirit in the heavens.
I know it is more links and you are not asking as to change your beliefs but if you can take the time to read at least it will be helping you understand it is for good not bad xxx
23-08-2016 7:37 PM - edited 23-08-2016 7:38 PM
@bankhaunter wrote:Bearing in mind Jesus said he would return in the lifetime of the Disciples and there have been numerous claims of his imminent arrival over the centuries which all are conspicuous by their abject failures, I think we can safely say holding one's breath waiting for it is probably not a good idea
If you knew the scriptures as well as you like to show you do, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to know that the time Jesus arrives is for told quite plainly.
The time for Jesus coming has not arrived or past, so how can it be deemed as a failure. It I still yet to come.
23-08-2016 7:57 PM
Had a quick look at the links you gave fd, and...
"...During that time, the 144,000 heavenly joint heirs will be judges and will rule..."
I hope no implication is made here that they will all be JWs, as this will indeed be 'tempting The Lord our God' !
23-08-2016 9:24 PM
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 16:28
Not knowing the day or hour means nothing, to the best of my knowledge I am going fishing next week but I don't know which day.
Of course if the words are vague enough they can be bent to mean anything and the Bible is certainly vague.
Odd really, you would expect writings inspired by a supreme being to be clear and concise. Words written by mere men can, however, be expected to be muddled, especially if they are copies of other writings. Given that there are thousands of Christian denominations, it's plain that the Bible is open to virtually any interpretation one cares to make which does rather undermine it's claim to divinity.
It is interesting to note that after the failures of the 1914,1918 and 1920 prophecy failures, the words used by Jehovah's Witnesses became more vague with Armageddon going from being 'too close for marriage', to 'within the 20th century' and from there to 'In our day'.
Let us face it, it's not going to happen, it's just the wet dream of JWs and other Armageddon cults.
23-08-2016 9:42 PM
So, the selected 144,000 will rule the Earth for 1,000 years eh?
Didn't someone else claim there would be a 1,000 year Reich and look what happened there?
It doesn't matter how it's pointed out that the current JW thinking has been tailored to suit themselves or how one "president" of the Watchtower changed things from that of the founder, glib, brainwashed responses will follow any sensible, factual, critical comments.
It's life Jim, but not as WE know it.
Live long and prosper.
24-08-2016 11:04 AM
24-08-2016 11:34 AM
Speaking of rules, the OP is breaking the very first two, that is, belonging to another organisation for the purpose of socialising with non-believers and have friends who're not JWs. (Are we classed as friends on here or enemies?)
It's life Jim, but not as WE know it.
Live long and prosper.
24-08-2016 12:08 PM
24-08-2016 12:10 PM
@cee-dee wrote:Speaking of rules, the OP is breaking the very first two, that is, belonging to another organisation for the purpose of socialising with non-believers and have friends who're not JWs. (Are we classed as friends on here or enemies?)
Earlier on in this thread, my 'sig' was complemented on.....and the OP confirmed that they have a lot of enemies 😞
24-08-2016 12:22 PM - edited 24-08-2016 12:24 PM
@cee-dee wrote:Speaking of rules, the OP is breaking the very first two, that is, belonging to another organisation for the purpose of socialising with non-believers and have friends who're not JWs. (Are we classed as friends on here or enemies?)
I don't think FD is socialising with non-believers but rather trying to convert them. From what I gather from her previous posts JWs have a deep hatred for everything other than Jehovah and his followers, so as a consequence of that train of thought, I doubt very much that she regards any of us 'unbelievers' as friends. It's difficult to say with any certainty as most non-believers are usually shunned so even conversing with us seems contradictory from her viewpoint.