“Donald Trump, whose wife speaks five languages, just wrapped up a pair of trips to Europe during which he spoke only English. Good for him. If Mr. Trump studied a language in college or high school, as most of us were required to, it was a complete waste of his time. I took five years of French and can’t even talk to a French poodle.”
Why do American schools still require foreign languages? Translating at the United Nations is not a growth industry. In the 1960s and ‘70s everyone suggested studying German, as most scientific papers were in that language. Or at least that’s what they told me. In the ‘80s it was Japanese, since they ruled manufacturing and would soon rule computers. In the ‘90s a fountain of wealth was supposed to spout from post-Communist Moscow, so we all needed to learn Russian. Now parents elbow each other getting their children into immersive Mandarin programs starting in kindergarten.
Don’t they know that the Tower of Babel has been torn down? On your average smart phone, apps like Google Translate can do real-time voice translation. No one ever has to say worthless phrases like la plume de ma tante anymore. The app Waygo lets you point your phone at signs in Chinese, Japanese or Korean and get translations in English. Sometime in the next few years you’ll be able to buy a Bluetooth-based universal translator for your ear.”
(Learn A Language, but Not a Human One by Andy Kessler - WSJ 7-17-2017)

We appear to be reaching a point in the history of mankind that repeats itself back thousands of years to the foundation of cities. (Gen 10:10) The rest of chapter 10 names the family lines of Noah. So, just as one man, Adam, became the father of all mankind, Noah, became the father of those living today.
“These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.” ( Gen 10:32 NASB )

“They now said: ‘Come! Let us build a city for ourselves and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, so that we will not be scattered over the entire face of the earth.’” (Gen 11:4 NWT) This building of cities was directly against the command of God. (Gen 9:1) So, what happened? “And Jehovah said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” ( Gen 11:6-7 DNKJV )

Mr. Kessler mentions the need for future coders. That means those who write computer or AI codes. Most people don’t realize that written language is code. Letters in each language are code to indicate a sound to represent an object or idea. The human brain is a wonderfully designed complex organ. That is one thing that AI programed machines lack. Some time in the future we will once again speak the perfect language of God.

 

Tsaphah,

OK, that's fine for you. I will apply it for my understanding, just as I will apply rev. 12 to understand how many 'days' make up a 'time'.

Another reference-clue. 3 1/2 days = 1,260 days...double it: 7 times or 2,520 days;

A day for a year and you get 2,520 years. From 607bc-1914 c.e.

All the Revelation -4 Horse prophecy is fulfilled starting with WWI. To me it is no coincidence. Scriptural prophecy has become scriptural fact in the last century. Jesus took up the throne of David to rule the universe and the world; not just Israel. (Rev 11:15-18)

The 7 times prophecy of Daniel in just one more in Daniel that pointed the Israelites to the future; God's rulership expressed through the Kingdom of Judah, and David,...would be restored , and the temple / true worship would be restored by this King, Christ.

Daniel 2; Kingdom comes 'in the days of those kings, and crushes and puts an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will last to time indefinite.

As another example of a day for a year application; don't we have it in the Daniel 9 prophecy of 70 weeks?

70 times 7 = 490 days

'a day for a year'...490 years

counting from 454 bc to Jesus' time we can start applying the details of Messiah's ministry, sacrifice, and the pouring out of spirit upon Gentile Cornelius and family.

This isn't hard to understand, and is a major prophecy the Jews knew all too well.

I think many JW 's Witnesses wish to pick a fight with WT prophecies about 1914, but in the end, have no strong argument.

But that is not a WT explanation, it comes from scriptures, and was understood centuries before WT took it up as 'our understanding'.

You can throw out this rendering/explanation of prophecy if you want; nothing any JW or ex-JW has ever said to me undermines the logical thought process the scriptures give. And the clues are not abstract, but simple.

Simple is good for the common man, which I am.


It means here that we can look to the Bible to explain 7 times. We don't claim to be a prophet. The prophecy belongs to Daniel the prophet. We just pieced it together based upon research from Bible readers/Christians over centuries; not JW's alone who just have explained the understanding of other diggers/searchers.

I do not claim to be a prophet at all.

 

Thanks, Joshua.

 

In my studies, and observations of people, I find some who try to fool another by their attempted use of language, in which they lack the knowledge of their native tongue. Because of this, it appears that they also lack necessary reading skills to understand the written word.

There is an English word that explains this condition. Abstruse: “remote from comprehension,” from Middle French abstrus (16c.) or directly from Latin abstrusus “hidden, concealed, secret,” past participle of abstrudere “conceal, hide,” literally “to thrust away,” from assimilated form of ab “off, away from” (see ab-) + trudere “to thrust, push,” from PIE root *treud- “to press, push, squeeze” (Online Etymology Dictionary)

There is an old quote that may have been coined by poet James Riley (1849-1916) that says: “When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.”

There is another use of this saying during labor meetings in 1946, by Emil Mazey. He said: “I can’t prove you are a Communist. But when I see a bird that quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, has feathers and webbed feet and associates with ducks—I’m certainly going to assume that he is a duck.”

You can insert any name instead of “Communist”. The test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject’s habitual characteristics. So, if they sound like a JW, they are likely a JW. If they sound like a (fill in the name/title) they are likely that, (fill in the name/title). Sometimes it takes a bit of time to observe them before we can identify their true colors.

This brings to mind what the apostle Peter wrote to the congregations about the letters of the apostle Paul. “Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you according to the wisdom given him, speaking about these things as he does in all his letters. However, some things in them are hard to understand, and these things the ignorant and unstable are twisting, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on your guard so that you may not be led astray with them by the error of the lawless people and fall from your own steadfastness. No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Pe 3:15-18 NWT)

The Greek word translated as ignorant is amathes (am-ath-ace’) = untaught, ignorant. The other word for twisting is strebloo (streb-lo’-o) = to twist, turn awry, metaph. to pervert, of one who wrests or tortures language in a false sense.

There are those who say we should love our brothers and sisters with our whole heart, as Jesus directed us to do. (Lev 19:18, Mt 43-33,) Here is where the understanding of the apparent contradiction comes in. In the time of Jesus, the people were familiar with the teaching in Leviticus. It says, “Love your neighbor,” It does not say, “Hate your enemy”. Where does the seeming contradiction come from? The problem comes from an addition to God’s word by the Scribes and Pharisees. “Thus, the people of Jesus’ day had fallen into the old and vicious habit of linking a sublime truth with a ridiculous error, thus ‘yoking the ox with the ass,’ to use an Old Testament figure of speech.” (Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament)

“The principle of loving one’s enemies is valid and binding upon all who would follow Christ. There is no room in the Christian heart, purged from sin and forgiven of all transgressions, to entertain such a stifling and chilling a thing as hatred for anyone. Love in this place does not necessarily refer to sentimental and affectionate love such as one has for members of his own family. The kind of love meant is the love manifested by God himself in that he sends rain on the just and unjust, etc. The implication is that the Christian shall treat his enemies with fairness and equity, doing unto them as he would desire people should do unto himself.” (Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament)

For me, this is one of the hardest feelings to overcome. Somewhere, deep inside yourself, you have to forgive a person for being an ass. And, I understand how the Jewish people felt about people of the nations (goyim). The basis for word, gowy (go’-ee), comes from the base word, gevah (gay-vaw’), meaning: the backside, behind. Ahhh, the butt!

 

JWs will never answer this.

 

For me, I never bothered reading into the 1914 stuff, I always had like a hidden doubt it was wrong, because it just seemed so unlikely that it was true, "if it's too good to be true, it probably is". Something always told me, the end times would play out differently than how the Watchtower predicted it, and it would cause mass confusion for the people. Always wondered whether Jehovah would really condemn humanity for not listening to a group of men in NY.

Anyways, I ran into singlecell on Reddit, and he basically mentioned 2 Thessalonians 2 and the Governing Body in one sentence. So I read and reread the chapter and I just couldn't believe it, I had to tear apart the overlapping generations with Bible scriptures before I accepted 2 Thessalonians 2 as truth, because it could have been a misinterpreted scripture, but i was able to do so within a couple days. I then found perimeno, because I was reading all of single cell's comments and he had linked to his site, from there I found this place then, I found e-watchman again after single cell had posted his stuff on here.

Anyways, my reasoning was mostly based on this fact, Bible > Watchtower. And during all this, I remembered the times reading about false prophets, confused about the passage, thinking there was no way it was talking about the Watchtower.

I had never read 2 Thessalonians 2 in my life until December 2016. Wonder why?

 

I learned a good lesson today about “These six things Jehovah hates; yea, seven are hateful to his soul;” (Pr 6:16 LITV) First of all, the original text says Jehovah has “soul”. Why is that important? There are those who teach that “soul” and “spirit” are the same. Wrong! It is wrong because both are different Hebrew words that describe something. They are nephesh (neh’-fesh), and ruwach (roo’-akh); nephesh = soul, self, life, person, that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being: whereas ruwach = wind, breath, mind, spirit. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (Joh 4:24 KJV)

My original comment about the lesson was based upon Proverbs 6:19.
“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (KJV)

“A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” ( NASB )

“A false witness who lies with every breath, and anyone sowing contentions among brothers.” (NWT)

The point to be made here is that a liar is a deceiver, one who teaches deceitful doctrine, and is a false witness. Jesus warned us about such ones. (Mt 7:15, 24:11, 24:24) These are the most dangerous because they are “one who, acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet, utters falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies”. From Greek, pseudoprophetes (psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace) False Prophet.

The other is a bit different as false teachers who “will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” (2 Pe 2:1) From Greek, pseudodidaskalos (psyoo-dod-id-as'-kal-os) False Teacher. These do not claim to represent Jehovah God and His Christ, Jesus. These persons use deception. Sounds pretty close to truth, if that’s what you are looking for. Remember, Eve was deceived. How? She desired the fruit of the tree. (Gen 3:6)

deceive (v.)
c. 1300, from Old French decevoir “to deceive” (12c., Modern French décevoir), from Latin decipere “to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat,” from de- “from” or pejorative + capere “to take,” from PIE root kap- “to grasp.” Related: Deceived; deceiver; deceiving.
(Online Etymology Dictionary)

Satan used deception. He used a statement close to the truth. “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1b NASB) “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (NLT) “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” (NWT) Close, but no cigar! A deceptive lie/untruth.

 

Trinitarians, the quiet destructive sects.

 

Modern Day American Government = Ancient Rome​

“The Roman government, considered both with respect to its form, and its laws, was certainly mild and equitable. But the injustice and avarice of the pretors and proconsuls, and the ambitious lust of conquest and dominion, which was the predominant passion of the Roman people, together with the rapacious proceedings of the publicans, by whom the taxes of the empire were levied, were the occasions of perpetual tumults and unsupportable grievances. And among the many evils that arose from thence we justly reckon the formidable armies, that were necessary to support these extortions in the provinces, and the civil wars which frequently broke out between the oppressed nations and their haughty conquerors.” (Mosheim’s Church History, 1847, pg. 22)

For those unfamiliar with the history of Rome, a pretor(praetor) was: one of a number of elected magistrates charged chiefly with the administration of civil justice and ranking next below a consul.
And, proconsul: an official, usually a former consul, who acted as governor or military commander of a province, and who had powers similar to those of a consul. Consul = an official appointed by the government of one country to look after its commercial interests and the welfare of its citizens in another country. Sound familiar?

“A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” (Ecc 1:4 ESV)

“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’! It has been already in the ages before us.” (Ecc 1:9-10 ESV)

“I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.” ( Ecc 1:14 NASB )

The Hebrew term hebel, translated as vanity or vain, refers concretely to a “mist:” “vapor:” or “mere breath:” and metaphorically to something that is fleeting or elusive (with different nuances depending on the context). It appears five times in this verse and in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes.

“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” - H. L. Mencken

One thing I never forget, my 9th grade social studies teacher said: “People deserve the government they choose.”

 

The present White House staff and President use the term “Fake News” whenever it goes against their views. Sometimes it’s not “Fake News” but, opinionated, and written in a misleading way. Here is an example of an article in The New York Times, by Nicholas St. Fleur.

Mr. St. Fleur apparently read the Bible account, in order to quote a portion of scripture, but chose to leave out facts that did not meet his needs to cast doubt on the truth. He quotes a portion of Deut 20:16, but fails to place it in context. He also fails to indicate where this quotation is found in the Bible.

Fate of Ancient Canaanites Seen in DNA Analysis: They Survived
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/science/ancient-canaanites-bible-lebanon.html

Here is where Mr. St. Fleur fails miserably, as a reporter/writer, in providing correct information. The commands given to the Israelites was:
“When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. If it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you. However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.” ( Deut 20:10-12 NASB )

“Only the women and the children and the animals and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as booty for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you. Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby.” ( Deut 20:14-15 NASB )

Then, when we read the full account, we find the true meaning of this partial quote. “Only in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the Lord your God.” ( Deut 20:16-18 NASB )

For the nation of Israel, they failed to carry out these commands and are still suffering from their enemies.