Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/04 07:04Would I tell anyone? God's Breath will tell us what to do. I don't have all the answers, but if I have started people thinking and searching, I have done what I should. And yes, the thought is exciting!!! I think there is so much more in store for us than we've ever imagined. And to think, there are people who are missing out on the chance to have a part, and there are hard working people who are being taught that the New Covenant isn't with them. I think of the Pharisees who traveled the earth looking for converts, then made them twice as much likely to end in gehenna.
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ablebodiedman
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Posts: 353
Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/06 04:06It seems that a marrriage garment is something which can only be bought (earned) from Jesus.
Revelation 3:18-22 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire that you may become rich, and white outer garments that you may become dressed and that the shame of your nakedness may not become manifested, and eyesalve to rub in your eyes that you may see.
19 All those for whom I have affection I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his [house] and take the evening meal with him and he with me. 21 To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations.
ablebodiedman
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ablebodiedman
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Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/06 04:43Jim, and anyone else who wants to participate.
If you have spent much time in this Internet Wilderness you will find sincere people who are or were Jehovah's Witnessess who are now completely dismayed at the condition of their religion and the organization which leads it.
The truly meek ones are brokenhearted. Many of the meek are still deceived and therefore held captive, prisoners of the WTBTS. Imagine the comfort they would get if they knew that the true FDS were presently being fed truths in the wilderness and that Jehovah would soon avenge all the deceit, injustices and transgressions of the WTBTS. That would truly be good news. Instead of mourning over the present conditions inside of "Gods Organization" (Zion) they would exult and no longer be downhearted.
Isaiah 61
1 The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening [of the eyes] even to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God; to comfort all the mourning ones; 3 to assign to those mourning over Zion, to give them a headdress instead of ashes, the oil of exultation instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the downhearted spirit; and they must be called big trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, for [him] to be beautified.
Please note that in the verse above I believe the "good news" is something very different from that which the WTBTS asks us to preach. Although the "good news" which the WTBTS asks us to preach is something extraordinary many of those who then become baptized are brokenhearted when they discern the deceits, injustices and transgressions being perpetrated through the leadership of 'God's Organization" -- Zion. The real "good news" is that these deceits, injustices and transgressions will soon end!
What does this have to do with the marriage garment?
Please note that verse one above indicates there will be some anointed who will preach this alternate and even better good news!
I think many of you have found this better "good news" in the Internet Wilderness.
I am personally thinking it will be those who are preaching this better news that will get the marriage garment.
This is supported by the last two verses of Isaiah 61.
Isaiah 61:10-11
10 Without fail I shall exult in Jehovah. My soul will be joyful in my God. For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; with the sleeveless coat of righteousness he has enwrapped me, like the bridegroom who, in a priestly way, puts on a headdress, and like the bride who decks herself with her ornamental things. 11 For as the earth itself brings forth its sprout, and as the garden itself makes the things that are sown in it sprout, in like manner the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will cause the sprouting of righteousness and of praise in front of all the nations.
As noted in your posts above this marriage is something that may occur and be witnessed by invited ones on the earth.
The verse above also suggests this will be something that all the nations will see or perceive.
the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will cause the sprouting of righteousness and of praise in front of all the nations
What do you think?
regards
ablebodiedman
Post edited by: ablebodiedman, at: 2005/09/06 05:47
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JWHVACR
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Posts: 43
Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/06 09:07My dear brother, I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts and conclusions. I'm just not too sure about the Internet part. The fact that the Society discourages it is a very strong argument for your view. The Internet is truly a Godsend and the forum of the people, but I would hope that it doesn't come down to who can afford the technology. Yet, this is the place where truth can be expressed and great ideas can be exchanged. Could it be the place where truth will be found in the 21st Century? That seems like a strange conclusion to someone as old as I.
Post edited by: JWHVACR, at: 2005/09/06 10:48
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ablebodiedman
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Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/06 23:40JWHVACR wrote: but I would hope that it doesn't come down to who can afford the technology. Yet, this is the place where truth can be expressed and great ideas can be exchanged. Could it be the place where truth will be found in the 21st Century? That seems like a strange conclusion to someone as old as I.<br><br>Post edited by: JWHVACR, at: 2005/09/06 10:48
Jim,
In order to reach the internet wilderness and be fed the truth we do need technology.
In this way we can see far distances from a great height....... the real truth.
Notice however, what is given to the "woman" (bride?) in order to reach the wilderness in the following verse:`
Revelation 12
14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place;
the two wings of the great eagle!
I strongly suspect the reason why I have a computer and ISP is not coincidence.
regards
ablebodiedman
Post edited by: ablebodiedman, at: 2005/09/06 23:41
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ablebodiedman
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Re:The Banquet of Matthew 22 - 2005/09/06 23:59Jim,
In regards to Jehovah's Witnesses, the Internet and the truth please read this very informative and interesting article written by Professor of Literature, Steven Cox at the University of California.
The Truth vs. the truth
I think the forum admin would do well to ask Steven Cox if they could publish the article on this site.
Just as the Watchtower Society replicated the anonymity of the corporation, so H2O replicated the anonymity of the Society.
Some of the article is entertaining:
Meanwhile, loyalists accused other loyalists of disloyalty, and a loyalist intellectual attempted to convince everyone that God himself is "the Master of Deception," cunningly testing his servants with truths that look like lies. Adding to the mix were people who kept coming up with "news" from "inside the org," news intended either to inspirit Watchtower subversives with prophecies of reform, to dispirit them with false prophecies, or simply to spread the terror of being uncovered: the Society knows who you are! You will soon be disfellowshipped!
I think the conclusion says it all:
Raymond Franz told me the following episode from the life of his uncle, Frederick Franz, the fourth president of the Watchtower Society. In old age, Frederick Franz was taken to an eye doctor, who found that he couldn't read even the first line on the eye chart. The doctor pronounced him almost totally blind, with no possibility of improvement. "Well," Franz said, slapping his knees, "as long as I'm here, I might as well get my eyeglass prescription brought up to date!"
That's morale for you. Does the Society still have enough of it, at a time when morale has so few ways of evading the embarrassments of truth? We'll find out because the Internet will tell us.
It's a long read but well worth the effort.
regards
ablebodiedman
Post edited by: ablebodiedman, at: 2005/09/07 14:55
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