Wt Study: April 14-20, 2008

[Administration]

Study article for the week of April 14 - April 20, 2008

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[SlaveForJah]

So much good stuff here about the parousia. It&#39;s a shame it has to be tied into the faulty "new light" on the "generation" teaching. More of the same when it comes to the "only we can see or understand, and you must accept our interpretation above and beyond the Bible" outlook on Christianity.

It&#39;s funny, but Exclusivity and Presumptuousness are not listed among the Frutiage of the Spirit.

Well, take the good and leave the bad. (Why am I hearing the Facts of Life Theme song in my head right now?)


Agape

SlaveForJah

[FGM]

I sat through the watchtower yesterday. I couldn&#39;t bring myself to comment on this "new light".
Actually most of the time during the study I was thinking "why is Jehovah allowing this"?
I was brought up on the "this generation" meaning the generation that would see the sign in 1914 and then not pass away before the end. Of course it changed in 1995 as mentioned in para 10 of the article.
It uses the phrase "thus it was felt"..Was it just a feeling? The basis of a radical change of thought is based on a feeling? I wanted to be in line with Jehovah&#39;s way of thinking. A scripture came to mind during the study...
1 John 3:19
By this we shall know that we originate with the truth, and we shall assure our hearts before him 20 as regards whatever our hearts may condemn us in, because God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.
So I reasoned during the study, "Well Jehovah must have a purpose for us to have believed something that basically is now considered false." And this has happened twice. Will there be another new light on this in the future? However, I decided that from para 8, I should really try to understand the reasoning and that this must be the truth. It must be what Jehovah want us to believe. I tried hard..but failed. I could not see it! I spoke with some after the meeting and asked them "Did you understand the point? Is it clear for you?" Most of the ones I spoke to just laughed and said well...not really..but it&#39;s new light ..so it must be true " type of attitude". Or "well it doesn&#39;t matter much"
So I left with that question still pounding away in my head. Why does Jehovah allow this? Is this the final absolutely correct meaning of this verse or is Jehovah allowing us to be taught something that again may prove to be changed. I know that I should be able to answer the question as I have been a witness for a long time and have seen other changes of thought. I coped with it then. But this time I just cannot be happy with just accepting . I guess this is shown by the fact I am telling you all this on this forum.

Maybe in the past I had the same attitude of those who I spoke to. But when I got home I was thinking that probably some on this forum have had the same thoughts. If Jehovah wants us to know the truth, as 1 John3 :19 tells us, why are we not given it? Why do we have to go through this "New light" fiasco. Is it a refining /testing procedure? Does Jehovah have a greater purpose than I can imagine? I know these are not new thoughts for most, but today I need reassurance. I didn&#39;t get any from my congregation members so I have come here for your encouragement and thoughts. I feel let down but on the other hand stimulated..
Sorry if this is a kind of rambling post but right now my mind is in a confused condition... :wacko:
Thanks for reading.

[TheCook]

I think it&#39;s safe to say that the Society is not the prime source of detailed prophetic truth right now. They still have the big picture in my opinion, but too many of the detailed prophecies are based on the concept that the cleansing of God&#39;s people was done in the beginning of the last century. If they let go of that, well, I simply don&#39;t think that will happen, Jehovah God will have to reveal the truth eventually.

A lot of the articles from the Society are very upbuilding, sure, and like SFJ said you can read an article like this one and take the good and leave the bad. Personal bible studies are very important now as well. Brother King&#39;s essays has many good pointers to what scriptures could be strengthening to re-read in these times.

[Candace]

Actually most of the time during the study I was thinking "why is Jehovah allowing this"?[/b]

(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) . . .So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

[Candace]

From Perimeno&#39;s site:

"This Generation"

The Watchtower of February 15, 2008, (pages 23-25), is offering yet again an updated explanation regarding "this generation," as mentioned by Jesus at Matthew 24:34. But, this is not a "new" understanding for it is a return to what was presented in the 1927 Watchtower, February 15, page 62.

The changing explanations over the years of "this generation":

C.T. Russell taught that "this generation" referred to people in general, who were living at a significant time in history. (Battle of Armageddon, pages 603-605)

J.F. Rutherford changed this in 1927 to apply only to the members of the "new creation," the anointed. "Some members of the new creation will be on the earth at the time of Armageddon." (W27, 2/15, p 62, image 900x1191)

In 1942, "this generation" was no longer identified with just the anointed. (W42, 7/1, p 204, par. 43)

In 1949 it was more clearly explained that it "had its modern counterpart in our generation from A.D. 1914 forward. This generation is the one that sees the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven as foretold by Daniel." It was expected that the generation of 1914 would be on hand to witness the end of this system. (W49, 7/15, p 215, par. 19)

By 1995 time for "this generation" had run out and the explanation needed to be updated. Therefore, "this generation" became "the wayward people who make up this contemporary &#39;wicked and adulterous generation,&#39;" but no longer limited to any particular date. (w95 11/1 p. 15 par. 21)

Now, in 2008, we are told, "As a class, these anointed ones make up the modern-day &#39;generation&#39; of contemporaries that will not pass away &#39;until all these things occur.&#39;" (W08, 2/15, p 23-25)

They have returned to what had already been discredited. We are going in circles! Isn&#39;t that a sign of being confused, even lost?


"O my people, those leading you on are causing [you] to wander, and the way of your paths they have confused. Jehovah is stationing himself to contend and is standing up to pass sentence upon peoples. Jehovah himself will enter into judgment with the elderly ones of his people and its princes." —Isaiah 3:12-14.

[Nightflyer]

I also sat through this yesterday. Once again I found it very odd that the friends (judging by their comments) didn&#39;t seem to be bothered much by this newest flip-flop. But maybe (hopefully) there were those as well and they just didn&#39;t comment at all.

[Elatjewel]

<div class='quotemain'>Actually most of the time during the study I was thinking "why is Jehovah allowing this"?[/b]

(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) . . .So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
[/b][/quote]


This scripture says it all! It can prove who is awake and who is content and not questioning the reasoning from the men at the top!

FGM, You will be confused and your mind will feel stimulated because you are awake and frustrated at being let down by what you hoped, like your spiritual family that they have the whole TRUTH and nothing but!

Well let me tell you......You are extremley fortunate that you have someone to ask and dabate with........This forum. When I asked questions and became totally convinced they had things wrong ( to say the least )...........I had no one except Jehovah to console with and nowhere to go.
They thought because I was confused that I did not understand the scriptures!

I thought I was going off my head and could not understand why the B&S would not address this. I am so thankful to God for sending me to others who have this light!

Love EJ :okularnik:

[FGM]

<div class='quotemain'><div class='quotemain'>Actually most of the time during the study I was thinking "why is Jehovah allowing this"?[/b]

(2 Thessalonians 2:11-12) . . .So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
[/b][/quote]


This scripture says it all! It can prove who is awake and who is content and not questioning the reasoning from the men at the top!

FGM, You will be confused and your mind will feel stimulated because you are awake and frustrated at being let down by what you hoped, like your spiritual family that they have the whole TRUTH and nothing but!

Well let me tell you......You are extremley fortunate that you have someone to ask and dabate with........This forum. When I asked questions and became totally convinced they had things wrong ( to say the least )...........I had no one except Jehovah to console with and nowhere to go.
They thought because I was confused that I did not understand the scriptures!

I thought I was going off my head and could not understand why the B&S would not address this. I am so thankful to God for sending me to others who have this light!

Love EJ :okularnik:
[/b][/quote]

Well I am happy, in a sense, that I am not the only one thinking this way. Of course one of the reasons I joined this forum is because I could see that the members were really tryng to serve Jehovah despite the kind of difficulties that are faced such as I myself outlined.
I am happy that I could get replies that made me realize I don&#39;t have to face the questions I have about the society or interpretation of prophecy alone. Jehovah knows each one of us individually and what we need the most. He knows the numbers of the hairs on our head ( in my case not such a problem to count!) and he must also know that there are those who will just accept what they are told and there will be those who have more enquiring minds. I suppose it is the same as our physical bodies. We all need nutrition but not all need the same type or amount. Just like type O blood types have different nutritional need to type B ( so recent studies indicate). Maybe Jehovah can tell what type of spiritual blood type we are ( sorry this analogy is pushing things a bit).
But as others mentioned we can benefit a lot form the articles and talks at the meetings, so I guess we have to try to ignore the spiritual junk food we are fed sometimes.
Anyway I appreciate everyones replies and pray that we can all be given encouragement through Jehovah&#39;s spirit- the greatest force in the universe.