xjwsforChrist

No way they can hang onto their gold if they go letting folks outright ask them questions and stuff. Surely, we all know that. Thing is, some of us keep trying to make sense... out of "NON"sense. And ALL of their stuff is nonsense.


SO... well, let's just say I'm not holding MY breath, waiting to the WTBTS to open some kind of public "line" to questioning. While they treat their members like they're a bunch of milk-breath toddlers, they KNOW the rest of the world will rip them apart. C'mon, Skalls... they control the questions INSIDE. You REALLY think they're gonna allow something that let's in questions from the OUTSIDE?



Some of this crazy nonsense that they will not be able to control from the outside is BS like this...

WT March 2015 study edition,


HOW HAS OUR UNDERSTANDING BEEN CLARIFIED?
3, 4. (a) What key elements must we know to understand the illustration of the sheep and the goats? (b) In 1881, how did Zion’s Watch Tower explain this illustration?
3 To understand the illustration of the sheep and the goats correctly, we need to grasp three key elements of the account: the identity of those mentioned, the timing of the judgment, and the reason for being classified as either a sheep or a goat.

4 In 1881, Zion’s Watch Tower identified “the Son of man,” also called “the King,” as Jesus. The early Bible Students understood the expression rendered in the King James Version “my brethren” to refer to those who would rule with Christ as well as to all of mankind after they are restored to earthly perfection. They felt that the separating of the sheep from the goats would take place during the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. And they believed that people would be classed as sheep because they lived by God’s law of love.

So DURING the 1,000 year reign. ( which is accurate)



5. In the 1920’s, how was our understanding refined?
5 In the early 1920’s, Jehovah helped his people refine their understanding of this illustration. The Watch Tower of October 15, 1923, affirmed that “the Son of man” is Jesus. However, it presented sound Scriptural arguments that limited the identity of Christ’s brothers to those who would rule with him in heaven, and it described the sheep as those who hope to live on earth under the rule of Christ’s Kingdom. What of the timing of the separating of the sheep from the goats? The article stated that Christ’s brothers would be ruling with him from heaven during the Millennial Reign, so they could not be helped or neglected by an earthly class. Therefore, the separating of the sheep from the goats would have to take place before the Millennial Rule begins. As for the reason why a person is identified as a sheep, the article concluded that people would be judged as such because they acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and looked to the Kingdom to bring better conditions.


Then, BEFORE the 1,000 year reign.

Truth does NOT change. Man changes and tries to make it fit their own teachings.



6. In the 1990’s, how was our viewpoint further clarified?
6 As a result of that adjusted understanding, Jehovah’s people felt that individuals were being judged as sheep or goats throughout the conclusion of the system of things, depending on how they responded to the Kingdom message. However, in the mid-1990’s, our viewpoint was clarified. Two articles in the October 15, 1995, issue of The Watchtower noted the similarities between Jesus’ words as recorded at Matthew 24:29-31 (read) and those at Matthew 25:31, 32. (Read.) * The conclusion? The lead article stated: “The rendering of judgment on the sheep and the goats is future.” When, exactly? “It will take place after ‘the tribulation’ mentioned at Matthew 24:29, 30 breaks out and the Son of man ‘arrives in his glory.’ . . . Then, with the entire wicked system at its end, Jesus will hold court and render and execute judgment.”


Then, the separation is AFTER tribulation and during 1,000 year reign ( Again like is 1881)


7. What clear understanding do we now have?
7 Today, we have a clear understanding of the illustration of the sheep and the goats. Regarding the identity of those mentioned, Jesus is “the Son of man,” the King. Those referred to as “my brothers” are spirit-anointed men and women, who will rule with Christ from heaven. (Rom. 8:16, 17) “The sheep” and “the goats” represent individuals from all nations. These ones are not anointed by holy spirit. What about the timing of the judgment? This judgment will occur toward the end of the great tribulation just ahead. And what of the reason why people will be judged as either sheep or goats? The outcome hinges on how they have treated the remaining ones of Christ’s spirit-anointed brothers on earth. With the end of this system so close at hand, how grateful we are that Jehovah has progressively shed light on ()this illustration and on the related illustrations recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25!

NOW, it's sort of vague. At the end of the tribulation???
But what does Matthew tell us? 24:29-31 25:31-




HOW DOES THE ILLUSTRATION EMPHASIZE THE PREACHING WORK?
8, 9. Why are the sheep described as “righteous”?
8 In the illustration of the sheep and the goats, Jesus does not directly mention the preaching work. ( of course he doesn't because it isn't a prerequisite ) Why, then, can it be said that it emphasizes the importance of preaching?

No where does it say anything about any sheep OR goats doing the preaching work! Preaching what???
The good news about CHRIST who according to them they new nothing of HIM or His brothers!

" Lord WHEN did we do this or that to YOU or the least of YOUR brothers?".... They did not have a clue who any of them were.


9 First, note that Jesus is teaching by means of an illustration. Obviously, he is not talking about separating literal sheep from literal goats. Likewise, he is not saying that each individual judged to be a sheep must literally feed, clothe, nurse, or visit one of his brothers in prison.

REALLY????? of course he did! What in the hell?...Hebrews 13:3 " Keep in mind those in prison bonds as though you have been bound with them"...

[color=#800040]Matthew 25:31-40 " Lord when did feed, clothe, help, etc"....

Rather[/color], he is illustrating the attitude that the figurative sheep display toward his brothers. He describes the sheep as “righteous” because they recognize that Christ has a group of anointed brothers still on earth, and the sheep loyally support the anointed during these critical last days.—Matt. 10:40-42; 25:40, 46; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

?????? They did not have a clue, how did they recognize them to support them???



Sooooooo, very small example of BS that if they truly had to address openly and answer truthfully, it could not be done. Exposure is inevitable!!! They will not have this happen as long as they can prevent it.

Just a share, I'm sure some of you will find more.
Peace and love to you all, your servant of our Lord Jaheshua MischaJah, Kim

Here`s the Problem..

A lot of JWs will tell you they would be JWs even if it "Wasn`t The Truth".
I heard it all the time growing up..
So you can point out as many WBT$ Lies as you like..
Most JWs are Good,with WBT$ Lies..

...


.........................................OUTLAW

_________________

Yep, the first time I read that, Justmom... I could only think that their light kept getting dimmer and dimmer. Murkier, with all of their false man-made doctrines muddying up the waters. (the two hope doctrine for instance)


Each of those changes did not clarify or refine their understanding. Each of those changes CORRECTED (corrected falsely, if you can wrap your head around that oxymoron) a previous teaching they then considered to be wrong. And they "corrected" their wrong interpretation what... four times? Each time, still wrong!

Where is the Truth (Christ), or anointing with holy spirit, in THAT?






LOL... yep!

And as you said, the sheep in the parable did not know they were doing good to Christ (by doing good to his brothers). But this same article tells the 'sheep' exactly how (and who) to do good TO:



Uh huh.

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' - Christ.





Talk about fleecing the sheep. (Shelby said that earlier and it stuck with me!)


**

So... no. The sheep do good to even the least of Christ's brothers... unknowingly... revealing that the law of love is upon their hearts. They do not do this good for a future reward. How could they? They did not even know that they were doing good to Christ!







Peace to you!
your servant, and sister and fellow slave of Christ,
tammy

Wonderful comments, dear 'Mom and dear tec (peace, my sisters!).

LOVE that graphic, dear Sher'f (peace, luv!). Only, I would change it to show the words "Lies" in HUGE letters, with people standing around, dark glasses on the floor (because they don't really NEED them)... but hands covering their eyes (because even if someone LITERALLY OPENED their eyes for them... THEY would cover them themselves... because they don't WANT to see).

Even so... brilliant graphic.

Peace to you all!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shel

The growing number of prospective sheep count it a privilege to support Christ’s brothers not only in the preaching work but also in other practical ways. For example, they give financial contributions and help to build Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, and branch facilities, and they loyally obey those appointed by “the faithful and discreet slave” to take the lead.—Matt. 24:45-47; Heb. 13:17.


Funny!

The society claims they are different from other religions that solicit $$$ or require tithing YET....

In order to be counted as a sheep and granted everlasting life, giving financial contributions is a prerequisite.

Utter disgust and hypocrisy!


Peace, your sister in Christ, Kim

I must have missed this thread until now, but this is so true. The point is those sheep did good to Christ's brothers because they did good to EVERYONE - because it was the right thing to do. That's the kind of people they are - they make good citizens of the earth.

YUP dear A...

Peace to you my sister, your fellow servant of Christ, Kim

I don't know if I agree that these who would be judged as sheep or goats don't necessarily know who Christ's brothers are. They may very well know but decide to do good (or not).

An interesting conundrum exists, though. What of those who have never met one of Christ's brothers, but still visit sick ones who are not Christ's brothers, feed or clothe them, etc. (e.g. some in non-Christian countries) What of them? Would they be considered sheep or goats?

This makes for an interesting argument, too. If there are only 144,000 of Christ's brothers throughout the last 2,000 years, it would be virtually impossible to do any of those things Christ mentioned. The chance of meeting even ONE from that number is minute at best. The chance that that one is sick, in prison, naked, hungry or thirsty is even smaller. (Ok, hungry or thirsty, sure... we all get hungry and thirsty on a daily basis.) What are the odds of being able to do good to Christ's brothers with this small number (now around 14,000 per latest statistics.)

I think when I see a GB member next (eg. at a convention), I'm going to hand him a bottled water. When he asks why, I'll cite Matt 25:35.

Our dear Lord's brothers are made up of two (2) groups, dear LQ (peace to you, luv!):

1. The fleshly seed of Abraham, first through Isaac but also through Ishmael, Isaac's half brother (which would be the "least" of his brothers); and

2. Those who "do the will of [his] Father (and ours), which includes some from Abraham's seed through Isaac, particularly through Isaac's son Jacob (aka Israel)... but also "a great crowd" out of EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, and people who do the will of his Father (and so are his "mother and brothers"). We KNOW they too are because they TOO... "wash THEIR 'robes'... fleshly vessels... outer garments... in the blood of the Lamb. And so their robes become "white"... eye-ee... clean... SPIRIT... too.

I hope that helps.

Again, peace to you!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shel

Good morning LQ, peace to you,


With that being said, and knowing that these ones exist everywhere in the world ( not just in the WTBS)
opens this opportunity up giving everyone who isn't one of our Lords brothers the opportunity to do good or not.

Adding those that truly DO belong to him in the WTBS are being called out to " Get out of her...MY PEOPLE!" They do not belong to another master ( the GB/ WTBS) so if they belong to Christ, they will no longer be inside of her.

And adding as well that Jah can and does show mercy to whom HE chooses.


As to this...

I think when I see a GB member next (eg. at a convention), I'm going to hand him a bottled water. When he asks why, I'll cite Matt 25:35.


I will definitely take this that you were joking. At lease I hope you were,

Love and peace to you, your sister and fellow slave of our Lord Jaheshua MischaJah, Kim

That's my understanding also, Kim. (I think LQ was joking, but for anyone else that may not know): I don't believe there can be any anointed brothers of Christ inside the watchtower. If anointed, they would have the knowledge that they were touching the unclean thing and get out of her.

But I have a question because the parable is still confusing to me. If the sheep and goats are separated in the 1000 years, and all the brothers are spirit beings before that starts, is this the time period in which the sheep do good to his brothers? We have probably discussed this but I cannot find anything.

But I have a question because the parable is still confusing to me. If the sheep and goats are separated in the 1000 years, and all the brothers are spirit beings before that starts, is this the time period in which the sheep do good to his brothers? We have probably discussed this but I cannot find anything.


Hello dear At, and peace be upon you,

My understanding is that the time period is taking place NOW and as far back as Abel as to how the sheep demonstrate whether they have that law of love on their hearts AND even into the 1,000 yr reign until their time that they stand before the throne and are judged as to how they treated the least of Christs brothers.

Remember when all of Christs body/ those that belong to Him when he returns are either resurrected ( the first resurrection) or changed/ twinkled... the marriage takes place in heaven as they are spirits BUT remember in Revelation 21:1-4


I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.


And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.



AND THIS...


Rev 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Rev 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

So although the marriage takes place in heaven with them ALL there in spirit ( for a minute ) the separating and interacting then will be on the earth as well.

Hope this helps answer and makes sense and that I too understand correctly,
Love your sister and fellow slave of Christ, Kim

Because the "anointing" would TEACH them that, allow them to HEAR the Fine Shepherd's voice... and so FOLLOW HIM... OUT, yes, dear 'At (peace to you, dear sister)?

"... the one who does not enter into the sheepfold through the door but climbs in by another way, that one is a thief and a plunderer. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought his own out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Hence, those that DO come out... because they hear him CALL them out... show themselves to be his sheep. Please note, I quoted from the NWT; however, that version includes the word "all" in verse 4. There is no word "all" in the Greek, however. So, it is NOT when he has gotten ALL of his sheep out that they (all) follow him: his sheep follow him AS he calls them, each one.

Now, some will hear that call and come out, as well... BUT they are not his sheep. How so? Because they hear the call... come out... to... what? Whatever it is, it is not "following" him. Hence, many are CALLED... and many HEAR the call... but few are CHOSEN. Because they don't all follow the Lamb... WHEREVER HE GOES.

Dear, dear 'Mom... peace to you, my luv... and your sharing here, what you shared and how easily... made my heart REJOICE. You know what I mean, girl.

Peace to you ALL!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shel

Peace to you both (and all),

The understanding given me is that the nations that are ALIVE at the time of Christ coming (after He has gathered His Bride to Him and they are married), will be gathered BEFORE Him and separated.


Those who have died are given the second resurrection (some to life, others to judgment - according to what they did as recorded in their individual books)... those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life of course enter the Kingdom. God of course may have mercy upon whomever He chooses.


During the thousand years, those born who are revealed to be sheep would also enter into the Kingdom. I don't see any reason why the same conditions would not still apply - that these ones prove that they have the law (of love) upon their hearts, revealed by what they do, to even the least of the brothers of Christ. (physical or spiritual)

(And aren't some of the physical brothers of Christ - some of fleshly Israel - camped just outside the city, and enter the city at the last minute (because they are so close) to avoid being destroyed by Gog and Magog? I seem to recall Shelby sharing that at one point, but I could be mis-remembering)

If angels walk among us without us knowing, so that some of us do good to them without knowing, then why could the brothers of Christ not do the same at that time?




Peace to you,
your servant and sister and fellow slave of Christ,
tammy

You and dear 'Mom are both correct, dear tec (peace to you, both!):

Dear 'Mom in that both those from back to Abel and those alive when Christ returns are "sheep" - they show themselves to be and so receive life (remember, those resurrected TO life receive life... and it is sheep who receive life - although there are sheep that do not. Another topic.).

However, you are correct with regard to this discussion and dear At's (peace, luv!) question, in that the sheep who are "separated from the goats" are only those who did good to Christ's brothers and are alive at the time he returns. These do not see death, but are given white robes and granted entry into the "holy city" as guests at the wedding of the Bridegroom and his Bride, and later serve as subjects of the kingdom given to them, ruled over by Christ and his Bride.

I hope that helps.

Peace to you, all!

YSSFS of Christ,

Shel