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Matthew 5: 11, 12:
“Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake.
originally posted by: Fopicon
You don't hear about Jehovah's Witnesses in the media that often if at all. They do exist and they are becoming a widely accepted religion. I was born into a JW family and continued showing interest in the religion as I got older. A growing problem within the JW congregations (churches) is the younger ones who do some sort of wrongful act that is against the pre-set rules. This can be anything but not limited to smoking, drugs, alcohol or premarital sex.
At the age of 16 I had become our congregations youngest Ministerial Servant. There are two "ranks" in a congregation. Ministerial Servant and Elder. I'll link sources to various bits of information at the end of this post.
When I turned 17 I had started to slowly drift away from my duties as a MS and the Elders took quick notice of this. I was called in to have a meeting with the Elders and other MS. The Elders were sending one MS and one Elder to Bethel. Bethel is basically the JW HQ. I was chosen along with the Elder who recommended I should be appointed MS. I had known him for my entire life and felt more calm about heading to Bethel after my recent divided attention towards congregation duties. I must mention that by this time I had started to actually read what JW's are all about despite being born into the religion. The Internet was my source for much of the information I researched. I didn't have many doubts at that point in time regarding the beliefs. While I did read some disturbing information and rumors, I tried to push them aside and let Jehovah strengthen me with "power that is beyond normal" to get through this.
My first week at Bethel was very pleasant. I learned so much from the brothers and sisters there. I even got to meet several "144,000". A few around my own age! This is great I thought. These young brothers and sisters can help get me through this moment of doubt and lack of attention. I was more excited now. Everyone there was very nice and polite. Humbling and modest. Most JW's are. "144,000" or not.
(side note: please excuse any grammars or anything that doesn't quite make sense, I'm very tired as of typing this. thank you for understanding.)
Move ahead two weeks from the initial week. This is now my third week at Bethel. The night before my third week there I had a strange dream. I've never had one quite like it at that point in my life. Elders and MS were present in a dark room. The atmosphere felt very uneasy. I felt fear and terror. I woke soon after. I shrugged it off without a second thought. It's just a dream I told myself. My mind was just overactive I told myself.
When we headed to sleep on the third week I had decided to stay awake and roam about the various buildings and rooms that were connected in tunnels and sky walks. I had no intentions. I was just wandering about and checking everything out. I had found it was much more empty than the other nights. Security guards were roaming the halls which isn't unusual. In fact, one of them asked if I was lost and looking for the Elders. I told him I was not lost but asked about the Elders. He shook his head and waved with his hand to follow him. We walked for some time it seemed. In one of the main hallways was what appeared to be a small crack in the wall. Come to find out it was not just a crack in the wall but instead a door that is opened by pushing and holding that area for a few brief seconds. Stairs led down and the guard waved me on. I told him thank you and slowly made my way down the stairs. The walls and flooring wasn't like the style in the main areas. The walls were white and the floor was a very smooth marble. Looked like something from a movie.
What I heard next is something I thought I would never hear. What I saw still "haunts" me to this day. The Elders were there. My friend and mentor was also present. The chanting was surreal. They spoke in tongues and often mentioned "power beyond what is normal" and chanted more frequently about the "144,000".
"Our lord, we your faithful servants, doing your will, commanding your slaves, bring you offerings of the apostates who spoil your name, hear us lord, fill us with power that is beyond normal, let us perform acts through your power"
Jehovah's Witnesses are not what they appear to be. When I left for home. I committed acts against the religion such as drugs, sex and drinking. I was disfellowshipped. Exiled from my family. Forgotten. We often talk of the Illuminati or Freemasons. Or any other countless societies. This too is one to add to that list. While they maintain an image to is positive and pure to "the slaves", they also maintain something far more insidious behind closed doors.
I have to stop here. I am far too tired to continue right now. I will be replying to posts and adding more to what I've found tomorrow. For now I ask you to comment and let me know if you've ever experienced anything similar or heard about strange things.
originally posted by: Char-Lee
I don't get that any religion is a cult anymore than another unless something like snake handling. The JWs worship the same as almost all except they don't call their buildings churches but call the people the church correctly.
Now, passing counterfeit money is a crime, causing inconvenience, loss and disappointment to the victim. But counterfeit religion is even worse. It’s deceptive, because it looks so much like the real thing. But sooner or later, it will catch up with the person who tries to pass it off as genuine religion. And when that happens, people get hurt; especially the people who know genuine religion. They often get turned off on all religion, and want nothing more to do with it.
Counterfeit or Genuine
When the Secret Service trains its members to recognize counterfeit money, they begin by studying and learning the genuine article. They study in great detail all of its protections, its paper and markings, and the very smallest details to ensure they know the “real thing” better than anything. A bank teller deals with money all day long and he or she can get a good feel of the currency and know the “real thing” from experience and handling the bills on a daily basis.
We begin by finding the genuine article by looking at the name…one that honors its founder and creator. As Christ pointed out to Peter, in Matthew 16:18, Christ is the founder…any other is an imposter/man-made/counterfeit.
Counterfeit Religion
If you want to learn the truth of the JW’s I suggest you read two books by Raymond Franz “Crisis of Conscience” and “In Search of Christian Freedom”. Franz was born into the JW’s, his parents already involved with them for many years. During his 60 years with them Franz served at every level including serving as one of the ‘governing body’ for 10 years, the highest level possible to reach in this organization. During his life long membership with them Franz witnessed many atrocities that caused him to leave this Satanic cult. I strongly suggest that anyone wishing to know more about the JW’s read these two books which expose the JW’s for what they truly are, I assure you, you will be stunned beyond belief when you read the heartless schemes of this joyless religion.
thewatchtowerfiles.com...
originally posted by: absentia
a reply to: Shana91aus
Forgive me for a late post, but I thought I would add an experience. My drinking, drug-taking neighbour is a jehovah's witness. His mother is here for a holiday. We got into discussion about their religion, with her insisting she knows all there is to know. Trying to ridicule me and my intelligence, my right to free thought. She told me about the fbi in New York. Basically, she claimed that the fbi told a member ("whom she knows"), that the UN are working with the jehovah's witnesses to install a one world religion.
So maybe what she was saying has some credibility. I don't know. I just know I choose to steer clear of any organised religion. Kindness, love and good intentions should be all that matters.
originally posted by: queenofswords
originally posted by: absentia
a reply to: Shana91aus
Forgive me for a late post, but I thought I would add an experience. My drinking, drug-taking neighbour is a jehovah's witness. His mother is here for a holiday. We got into discussion about their religion, with her insisting she knows all there is to know. Trying to ridicule me and my intelligence, my right to free thought. She told me about the fbi in New York. Basically, she claimed that the fbi told a member ("whom she knows"), that the UN are working with the jehovah's witnesses to install a one world religion.
So maybe what she was saying has some credibility. I don't know. I just know I choose to steer clear of any organised religion. Kindness, love and good intentions should be all that matters.
JW's are working with the UN to install a one world religion???? Really? She told you that? Then she is not a JW because JW's teach that the United Nations is "the image of the wild Beast" mentioned in Revelation.
They have always put the UN in a negative light (rightfully so, imo) and taught that it is a tool of Satan. But in the 90's they signed up as an NGO (a non-government organization) for the United Nations. They did this in secret keeping it from their rank and file members. When the Internet proliferated and everyday people finally had easy access to computers and the web, this information was discovered and created a pretty big stink among some JWs. The Watchtower Society (JWs publishing arm) removed their membership, but the damage was done. They slyly claimed it was to have access to the UN library. However, the average JW is unaware of this little nugget of info.
Chapter 1
The Watchtower Society, the legal corporation used by Jehovah's Witnesses, immediately withdrew the DPI NGO membership. They explained that the requirements for being a DPI NGO had changed since they first signed up in 1992, and they then thanked The Guardian for bringing the matter to their attention.
Summary
· The Watchtower Society became associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in 1992.
· The Guardian's report led to the Watchtower Society ending the membership in 2001.
Chapter 2
The Watchtower Society was a totally different type of NGO associated with a different UN department — the Department of Public Information (DPI). Accusers deny this, and claim the differences are “irrelevant facts”, when we can clearly see that is not how the UN feels about the matter. Let us now examine the original Resolutions of the United Nations to show the difference between ECOSOC and DPI NGOs.