The Biggest Lie of All: You Can Live Forever on a Paradise Earth
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- Опубліковано 14 гру 2024
- Eight million+ Jehovah's Witnesses base their entire lives on the belief that they may never die and will live forever on a paradise earth, complete with pet elephants, perfect food, perfect health and surrounded by generations of their resurrected family members. The Governing Body commands them to sacrifice immediate happiness to spread this 'message' to billions of people not yet baptized into the religion. But there's a problem: the Bible never mentions a paradise earth hope... and neither did their king, Jesus Christ during his visit to earth. Jesus forgot all about this 'hope'... until 1935. Join us as we unpack the lie that steals time … and lives...
#jehovahswitness #exjw #governingbody #jehovahswitnesses
TWITTER: @exjwpodcast
INSTAGRAM: survivingparadisepodcast
My dad used to fall asleep when studying that book with me 😂😂😂. I was such a good little jw that I carried on the study by myself as he snored.
WOW! Freddy we were the same kid...some false sense of duty we had!
@@survivingparadisepodcastWhich church are preaching the gospel of the kingdom around the world to all nations as Jesus Christ said? Matthew 10:16, 24:14, 28:19-20, Mark 13:10, if not only only only the Jehovah's witnesses..
Which church are preaching the gospel of the kingdom around the world to all nations as Jesus Christ said? Matthew 10:16, 24:14,28:19-20,Mark 13:10, if not only only only the Jehovah's witnesses..
Thank you so much for this!! Love how you broke this down! I wish my jw family would listen to this! Would save them years of heartbreak. I’m 8 yrs out and you described so accurately what it feels like waking up to this lie. This is the one thing that I’m still hung up on-my mortality. I remember as a child and even as an adult, our family would see cemeteries and I would feel so relieved to know that that was something that didn’t apply to us, a place we’d never be, as we were never going to die! Recovery from such a horrific lie is slow and painful. In fact, in seeking help to recover from the cult, they diagnosed me with PTSD. Yeah, brutal doesn’t even begin to describe the impact of their lie. But like you said, while some may not completely recover, the blow does seem to lessen with time.
Thank you Alisha! Believe me, I've had the same experience and there is no easy way to face it once you realize it was all a lie. There are still tough days. I'm so glad you're out and I'm a HUGE fan of therapy for ex-JW's. There is so many things to figure out and the emotions.......big. So glad you're OUT!!
❤
The JW organization never said we would not die. Death is the punishment for sin. Christ Jesus paved the way for us to live forever provided we follow the rules. God's people who are alive at Armageddon will never have to die but must survive God's Day. All the unrighteous and righteous who have died will be resurrected here on earth under the rulership of Jesus Christ. (Acts 24:15) And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." All those who become Jesus Christ bride class will live as priest and kings in heaven for the benefit of all humans on earth. If you all think this a horrific lie you probably need to take it up with the Creator.
@@ronhansen8471what rules? There is only one thing one must do to be saved.
@@jsure8786 We have two roads to follow one is narrow and cramped the other is wide and spacious. Which road must we take to be saved? Why does the bible state that endurance is needed to be saved? The law of a Christian is love. What does it mean to love another? If a Christian commits an act of gross immorality what then? A Christian cannot use God's kindness as an excuse for loose conduct.
(2 Timothy 2:3-5) As a fine soldier of Christ Jesus, take your part in suffering adversity. 4 No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the commercial businesses of life, in order to gain the approval of the one who enrolled him as a soldier. 5 And even in the games, anyone who competes is not crowned unless he has competed according to the rules.
Christians are likened to soldiers wearing armour. (Ephesians 6:11-13) Put on the complete suit of armor from God so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; 12 because we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places. 13 For this reason take up the complete suit of armor from God, so that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and, after you have accomplished everything, to stand firm.
Why do Christian need to wear a suit of armor if once saved always saved? Why can there be wickedness in the congregation?
Just have to say, I left the organization a few months ago after being in it for my whole life (21 years) and I wanna just thank you for covering this topic and many other important things but in a way that can make us all laugh. So many moments you had me absolutely dying of laughter. You made this difficult transition a little bit easier:) thanks again
Thank you Yappy! That means a lot, I try to have some laughs! I'm so glad you got OUT!
Hey how are you feeling now being out of the cult 😊?
Oh good for you! Congratulations! Yeah, you’re young and will bounce back. You may go through a grief process and feel some uncomfortable feelings. That’s pretty normal. You’ve got a beautiful life ahead of you! It took courage and strength to get on out! ❤
Thank you, Stacey, for exposing another lie of the Watchtower Society. It is astounding how that cult uses the promise of paradise on earth to raise the hopes of their followers. Imagine how many people put their dreams on hold to serve in that so-called religion.
There is a such a trail of broken lives. It's pure evil. Thanks for listening George!
Evolution is defeated
My mother did and also caused so much dysfunction in her children and recently passed away waiting for the new earth😢 Passed at the age of 97
Lies? Take a good look at the bible itself! Jesus dies promise a paradise restored. Where was the paradise if adam and Eve? It eas right here on earth, isn't it? So paradise us here on EARTH! Why would a resurrection be needed if everybody goes to heaven uf you die? Then it would not make any sense, right? Where did Lazarus come from after he was resurrected by Jesus after being dead fir 4 dats? From where? Heaven? Hell? He simply did not exist for he died already. Why did he not have stories about what happened to him in that period? Because he couldn't have any, as wgen you die your memories are gone too. Where was ge resurrected? Again, as a human being here on EARTH. Ut is therefore not strange that I believe in a resurrection here on this earth. What must i do in heaven? Tell me, what wiuld be the purpose of that? Where in the bible us stated that our destination is heaven? Jehivah God created the earth fir us to live in and to enjoy!
I think ALL of you dhould reread the bible itself. The bible is very clear about the purpose for humankind. It are the churches who mislead you by saying that you will go to heaven uf you are a good person or to hell
This is the only time in my life I can remember looking forward to Monday morning. Great episode per usual.
Thanks Deo....Monday's are tough :)
For me...I can get over the fact that I wont live forever. Im not that important. I can see the natural circle of life going on around me...& sadly, it includes death. (I am plagued by the fact that I think getting old & death itself is BARBARIC! I challenge everyone to visit an old folks "home".) What gets me the most is seeing the horrific wastage of life! Mine...& so many others! Entire lifetimes. Not living. Waiting. For...nothing. Human sacrifices! Epic tragedy. If a believer were to live a normal life, being a decent human, doing work that benefits all, work that fulfills their personal talents & vision, I could live with it. What damaging lies.
SO much to discuss isn't there Heather??! A reality that hits you hard when you leave JW's. I now listen to elderly folks....let them tell me what it's important!
Waiting...for nothing.
That's about it.
I truly feel this isn't it . Maybe reincarnation is a real thing I just can't believe you die and decay in the earth .I truly believe we have a spirit that continues on
@@karenmoody2763 I have lost loved ones, too painful to for me to speak about. (If I don't talk about it, then it didn't happen...right?)
In my heart of hearts, I have to believe we will be reunited in some way.
I do not believe in the Bible, or a God, but as you, I have to believe there is something else.
Same here with the research, but different conclusion. I'd rather know there is no proven God, than believe there is one, just sitting back watching all the carnage.
Your podcast is a one-word, classic 👌. Keep them coming. From Nairobi, Kenya. Kind regards. Thank you, Stacey
Thanks so much Jacque! I'd love to visit your country!
In Swahili, we say Karibu sana. Much welcomed
Kenya is the real paradise on Earth 😂
Nice to see another Kenyan here
I can’t even count how many times I shook my head during this episode. So much time, so much damn time wasted. What’s even more disturbing is that the literature was right under my nose, all I had to do was read and understand it for myself. Damn shame…
Thanks for another sobering but truly insightful episode Stacey.
Be kind to yourself 96.....right there with you. I taught this stuff, studied this stuff.....and was sucked in like everyone else. We almost have to let go of the time we have lost....
@@survivingparadisepodcasttrue but it’ll pop up in a nightmare when least expected: grinning women, scowling elders all chasing you down with machine guns shaped like their old green Bibles. Magazines flying through the air like crows trying to peck your eyes out...😂😢😮
All,of this was taught in prophecies from the Old Testament! Read your Bible and check out all scriptures!
Satan at it again., Many Adam and Eves here being deceived ……again! 🤔😢
@@joniroylance8729 what are you talking about?
How did we ever fall for this paradise business.
Because it was too good to pass up.
It is just like medical quackery in a way; it has been used to raise the hopes of people are looking for relief from their troubles on earth.
Because they were selling you a concept not facts or truth.
It never made sense to me. Why not have the "paradise" be now? Why have all this suffering and waiting? If God makes no mistakes, then how come there's a do over for "this system of things"?
Ugh, same question. It's brutal. And so many decades buying into it. We all gotta lean on each other.....because it's tough once you realize it.
Great exposition on this topic, this is certainly information that many need to hear and come to understand. It's certainly one of the many topics that can be difficult for many to swallow.
Thanks Ashera, it's true....I'm inching my way to discussing the damage it causes and what we can only hope to do about it
Long comment incoming. I had to stop this video about 16 min in because I knew I wasn’t emotionally ready to hear it yet. Now that I’ve been able to come back to it I appreciate this so much that I sent it to my therapist as this is something we’ve worked thru extensively. The concept of lost time is something I struggled with even as a true believer and the message of “this is only temporary” weaved it’s way into my psyche so deep that it’s grip has been the hardest concept to pry off of my subconscious mind. We have never been taught what it is to TRULY live because it was discouraged to do so. Everything being dictated by some distant future outcome. I can’t remember a time without worry that anything I love, anything I enjoy will be gone one day and now that I’m out, I feel like I started life in the middle of the game with half the materials and instructions of everyone else and I have half the time to finish playing it. Sometimes I would look at my boyfriend and think about how much I love him and I would start tearing up out of nowhere at the thought that one day he will be gone, to the point that I would get severe anxiety if he joked about getting old and his knees being bad lol. It sounds so silly but it makes sense when you look at the message that’s been drilled into a lot of us since birth. Once we wake up and heal from the more surface levels of our trauma it’s important that we work to uproot those “beliefs” we know intellectually are false but that are so ingrained in us from years of programming that we may not realize where they are affecting us psychologically. Look objectively at your behaviors and relationships and look for ways that trauma may be manifesting that you may not even be aware of. A high control group doesn’t survive this long without being VERY good at what they do, don’t underestimate the level of programming that we have experienced. I can’t recommend EMDR enough for working thru this. I am still a work in progress but so much lighter mentally and emotionally. It’s unfair that we are all little wobbly baby deer legged adults trying to figure out this life with half the support and preparation most others get. But the truth is that “Paradise” is right here right now, wherever you are. Your life starts now, don’t waste another moment waiting for forever! ❤
Well said! I’m from other country but as jw we have same trauma, trauma that will not go away cuz of the control we had😢But I was lucky one able to be free easily from the thinking of “what if I’m wrong”. I researched and research this org. It was there, but was blinded. Hope all will see it! Thank you for an educational comment.
outstanding!! Thank you for sharing this Perfume! The trauma is VERY real! I love that people are seeking help and comfort for what is very evil tactics by the Governing Body. This is especially true for anyone raised from childhood in JW's. Trust me, I get emotional discussing many of these subjects!
Here we go!!!!!
there he is
Heartbreaking truth.
:(
Even though I was born in I really always had questions about this doctrine and the fact they called other Christian religion false and wicked but even as a child I just didn't see all worldly people as being evil .
You weren't alone Karen!
khakis, jehovah approved!!!!
LOL, always!
Love your delivery, your voice,your truth! Peace be with you!💖
:) thank you so much Virginia!!
Stacey, this 1935 convention was when they decided that only the 144,000 could partake of the memorial emblems. Such a disgrace. For professing Christians this unique rite is what makes them CHRISTIAN!
YES! The Judge changed everything!
I can't explain how thrilled I was when it was time to partake of the bread and wine after trusting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I literally felt as if I had been set free.
Great talk Stacey! Thank you.
Thank you Penny!
"it's brutal" well said 😥
Thanks Jeff :(
They promise paradise, but the one that really drew me in was "we was the generation that the bible said we would enter into paradise and would never have to experience death.
That single teaching caused thousands to leave
@@survivingparadisepodcastat least they got out…..
Another superb expose into Watchtowers teachings of living forever on a paradise earth, which falls apart like a cheap suit under the slightest examination.
Love all your podcasts, and your reasoning ability!
Thanks a ton Denis!! Appreciate you!
Another great epp Stacy! Thanks for your work.
Thanks Cody, I appreciate it!
Right. We have to pay for the time we spent propagating lies, even as children, because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Some call it karma or the law of cause and effect. That's why it's so good to spend as much time, exposing and proving what the watchtower owners, truly are, as we spent as children/youth/adults so we have the good effects sooner.
YES! I personally feel that we have to alert others to this trap. I stayed away for years, but last year my mind changed. Warn others.
At first it just sounded like he was making fun of mr russel, but it was so necessary. All we were taught was what a revalation the paradise earth was. Really good 👍
Thanks Lilly!
Im brad.i just started with the jehovahs witnesses. Im so glad i watched this video. Thank you.
Run like heck away from the JWs
My mom died when i was young & my dad used her resurrection as leverage to keep me as a Jehovah's Witness almost all my life 😑
I'm SO sorry B!! Terrible on every level. Huge (((HUGS))) to you for all you've been through
@@survivingparadisepodcast aww thanks! 🤗
Thank for a wonderful and truthful video I am a ex JW doesn’t say that the meek shall inherit the earth and reside on it. Just a thought
Thanks Cecilia....it sure does and we actually discuss that verse in this episode...most will be shocked to know the WT says that applies to those in heaven!
BEST EXJW PODCAST!
Wow, thanks Tucker!!
I do believe a loving god would fix our worlds problems by getting rid of those ruining this earth. Perhaps he will. " A new Earth and Heaven" Perhaps people will live on the earth for a long time in peace and eventually will be with God and Jesus in Heaven. Lets Hope
I respect everyone's beliefs....a paradise earth would be amazing and I would think 'he' would have done it by now if it were real
Whatever it is the fact is that this earth is not sustainable any more with humans on it and we are losing species and habitats at a rate never known before so either humans become extinct or something radical will have to happen like a massive shift in human consciousness on how to live differently on this planet. I don't know what the answer is really going to be. I've been on this Earth and still unable to explore and do all the things I want to do and do it without fear and stress - that is what attracted me to JWs even though I am not one. Life is short, time is limited and we are restrained by growing old, getting sick and exhausted. Crap aint it. I don't want to go to that Heaven either with God, whatever God is, or Jesus, whoever he really is. I have never fancied Heaven at all. Whatever it is supposed to be. Probably because I was brought up Catholic.
@@julieb5960 All true. I didn't go into it here, but the sun will eventually implode....it's a star.....so much to discuss on that subject
I do believe we are created.... and that there's something else beyond this... but organized religion certainly isn't the way
Thanks Aaron! I've been much more open to exploring that thought since leaving JW's!
@survivingparadisepodcast I don't know how to word this, what would spark your interest? What would be something that would make you think 'Wow! What's going on here? We do live in a spiritual world!'
I’ve never actually been a JW myself but I used to go to the public Sunday meeting with my JW relatives occasionally, mostly just to placate them, and because, ya know, family. I’ll never forget the time I was sitting near my great aunt and cousins in the Kingdom Hall before the meeting started and my six year-old little cousin was kind of bouncing around excitedly talking about how she was gonna be an elder in paradise, kinda just being a little kid. My great aunt kind of touched her and stopped her from bouncing and told her, “No no honey girls can’t be elders, not even in paradise.” This was her grandmother! When my cousin asked her why not, my great aunt told her because Jehovah made boys to be leaders and he made girls to listen to boys. Yeah some fuckin paradise. 🤬
This was actually one of the last meetings I ever attended. I had also noticed by this point that my JW relatives would always turn down our non-JW relatives’ invitations to their churches and church functions, but they expected us to go the Kingdom Hall with them! I already knew well before this that I could never actually be a JW, but this one of the events that made me realize that I didn’t even want to attend meetings anymore, not even to make my relatives happy. Why would I want to live in their “paradise earth” if this is how they treat women and girls? Speaking of which, I’ve always hated dresses and skirts anyway, can’t stand the thought of having to wear them regularly, and I’d long since realized I probably wasn’t gonna get all the pet owls I wanted like my great uncle promised I would get if I kept attending meetings lol. It was kind of at this point that I really started doing more research on this religion and realizing just how horrible they really are and thanking every god possible(except Jehovah lol) that my siblings and I weren’t born into or raised in this awful cult. My parents have always seen right through the bs our relatives peddle as well. And for that, I am eternally grateful to them.
The misogyny runs deep in this 'organization'.....I'm not surprised by that story at all. Women are expected to submit on every level.
@@BlackFlagHeathen WOW! I'm so glad you put in the effort to look behind the curtain. I laughed loud when I read your thought about JW's turning down invites to other churches, but arrogantly expect everyone else to go to the KH.....it's hilarious....and absurd
I’m not a witness or a member but it does seem right since god wanted Adam and Eve to live forever on paradise earth before they sinned that he would follow through with his original intentions.
@@Slim1962 Hi Stephen, your logic is correct! However, it's all based on the Adam & Eve story being literal. And, well..... I'm not a believer that it's a real account for many, many reasons. Scholars can directly correlate that story to many other like stories/cultures.
😢I feel the same way!! How can I didn’t see it!! I can’t believe I was played!!
You weren't the only one! :)
baby lions and tigers, little elephant smiling..
Thank you! Even though for all of us awaken, learning this is heartbreaking and really difficult to deal with every day, but seeing those believing and destroying their lives and their loving ones; is just terrific.
Thank you Mary! It truly is an ongoing 'pain' that all of us that believed the lie have to deal with....some days are better than others, but you're not alone!
Excellent podcast, per usual. We have eerily similar stories, & made similar sacrifices for the org.
I remember I asked my devout mother in one of my last conversations w/ her, as an Elder mind u, did she truly believe in the Bible. Of course she said yes. What I quickly discovered, or should I say knew but dismissed, was that many JWs think they know the Bible, but In actuality only know what’s been taught; and, as we discussed before, are unfamiliar with their own publications.
I asked her to find me a scripture where the terms “great crowd of other sheep” is discussed and “Paradise Earth.” She couldn’t b/c it doesn’t exist. I asked her what does Matt. 5:5 mean, & she immediately said a future promise for Jehovah’s ppl. I asked which ones, the heavenly folks or earthly folks? She said earthly, of course. I showed her that IT-1 reference u mentioned. I asked her who her mediator was according to scripture; she said Jesus. I showed her various WT & The IT-2 reference stating otherwise.
All of it flew over her head, & I was labeled as the crazy one. Lol. U have to laugh at it, in order not to go madly insane. WT is notorious for spinning a couple of scriptures, but all one has to do is keep reading. No different that the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that they hinge their 1914 teaching upon; all u have to do is keep reading & it literally said the dream was fulfilled! Lol. I mean, all of it! Lol.
Hence, this is y the org says u can’t understand the Bible w/o them; they convinced these honest hearted (most of them) ppl, that they are the channel, so therefore forget what Jesus, His Apostles, or even Jehovah says…this is what it actually means according to them. Lol.
Oh wow, I'm so sorry about your mother....but you nailed it. The vast majority have NO CLUE what the Bible or their own literature says. Nothing. My own mother is still in as well. And it is amazing to show them from their own books and they still think you've done some sort of magic trick on them....they won't accept it. Cognitive dissonance is incredible! An oh yes, good 'ol Nebud....and the book of Daniel.....what a doozy of a fairy tale
I thought it was Cedar Point Ohio where Rutherford said. "Behold the great multitude."
A famous convention that featured "advertise, advertise, advertise the King and his Kingdom"....but the Washington, D.C. event is when suddenly there was a 'great crowd'
Another point I picked up over the years. The word in the Old Testament was ‘land’ not ‘earth’ thus lending more weight to the narrative being about Israel only .
Eg the meek will inherit the land
HUGE point and I wish I had more time.....lots more material and things to discuss on this topic
What separates you from the rest is how honest and personable/likeable you are...
I find it funny yet now, how those well trained by the Organization still show fantastic teaching skills, vocabulary, use of questions and illustrations, emphatic speaking ability. You are one such. Thank God you are using these skills now to enlighten the masses. You are appreciated!
Awwww, thank you so much Maja that is so kind...I appreciate you!
The whole of the new testament was meant for the 144,000 when you think of it. It was a closed book to us 😢 I guess that's why they quote from the old testament so much. I'm glad you bring up Isa 65 and get it into the context. Good video Stacey 😊
Thanks Julie! Oh yes, they LOVE the OT... it's perfect for modern day Pharisees!
millions now living will never die
An unbelievable blatant lie that everyone ignores!
You have brilliantly explained why JWs are inconsistent with the Bible which does not speak of life in paradise on earth. One of their most important doctrines is based on a lie.
I had no idea JW's were applying the vision from 2 Cor 12:4 to a "spiritual paradise" of organization from the 20th and 21st centuries, this is crazy 🤣 And interpretation of Mt 5:5 is also new to me :O
The worst thing is that JWs wait passively for this paradise all their lives, not trying to make life on earth better for people and animals by fighting inequalities, poverty, discri mination, exploitation of nature, etc. If reformers and revolutionaries had the same point of view as JWs, the world would be in a worse state than it is now, because nobody would fight for changes. Working hours would still be 10 to even 16 hours, there would still be racial segregation, etc.
OH yes, they stay well clear of any practical help or issues. They simply claim to remain 'neutral' and won't do anything in real time to help others
The organization champions Religious freedom when they file lawsuits. Eg the Norway government this is what they do to change the world
I don’t hurt . I never believed . I dodged the bullet as they say .
Nice people ( not talking about the governing body ) , maybe some are , but gullible for sure . How sad that people’s brain can end up so closed to reality !
I'm glad you were never trapped! It's incredible how many people hang on to the hope.....we are all vulnerable and they take advantage
If one is fortunate enough to never have been told that death is a terrible thing but the normal ending of a beautiful life we could have missed out on altogether, it is easier to not need this sort of stories .
Yes , I feel privileged , at 74 , I had a life with strong concepts of right and wrong while the idea of “ sin “ was and is totally non existent .
It has been at times funny to see door knockers realising what a lost case I was for them .
@@moniquedelaney7958 I'm so glad to see how you view all of this in your own life!
there is a scripture we used. The life of my people will be like that of trees. This scripture was used to support the New World. Yet trees don't live forever
Oh I remember that!
Loved your covering of this topic. One thing that I absolutely love about the illustrations of this video are the JW depictions of what paradise "evidently" will look like. Never mind about all of the men will be clean shaven(no beards remember), short hair above the ears, shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, gazebos, fences, cut grass, farming instruments, etc. etc. etc, which will all need to be manufactured! By the way, did anyone notice the "evident" Bible the man was reading? Hmmmm, I wonder how that Bible was manufactured? Then there's the approximately 8 billion people who will be resurrected! The list goes on & on! Keep up the great work Stacy. Hopefully others will be woken up by your podcasts.
Love the way you think! I would look at the illustrations making the same sort of notes on every picture! The pictures only create a million more questions!
@@survivingparadisepodcast, bingo!
@@davidreda1211 Thanks David!!
The biggest lie shall continue on forever as it’s most profitable…🙄
All about the cash!!
My Dad said they play A Mind GAME on us.We have to learn how to play the GAME.Then we will never be fooled or come under their Control 100 per cent.Everythong start with the MIND.😮
YES! Your dad was correct.....they do everything possible to control you thinking!
You’re the real deal. Appreciate all your content.👍♥️
Awww, thanks so much Simone!
With all the videos I have seen with different channels, this one hits home the most.I appreciate the time you took in hitting all of these great points!! I will be listening again 🥰
Wow, thank you! I appreciate you listening in!
Hi, this was the theme that I struggled with. I always thought it was so stupid. I heard about the “truth “ at the age of 16, studied, baptized, and left by the age of 21. Brainwashed myself for preaching, hated it. My parents would go gambling all weekend long, and I was home with grandparents and siblings. This was a way to go out and socialize with neighbors’ teens. The funny thing it’s I don’t remember when or where I was baptized. I don’t remember a thing about the Bible, it’s like a lapse or brain fog of the time in my life. Left in 1980 that’s when the rules changed 1981, the JW that left was to be treated the same as the disfellowshipped. Went back when I thought I needed God in our lives to raise our children, only 2 or 3 times, instead of love I was told to sit in the back and not to speak to anyone. I thought “what the hell am I doing here” got up and never returned. My kids turned out to be just two great people, hard working, decent people without putting them through the hell the cult is. Thank you so much.
I'm so glad you got out Regina and I'm even happier to read that your children got out! I don't blame you for not remembering anything; our brain tries to protect us from the trauma of being in a cult! Thank you for listening!
I don't understand any of the treatment of children , expected to sit still and listen to boring adults but of course Stephen Lett thinks they are enemies of God so I really shouldn't be surprised .so happy you got yourself and family away from the cult
Good video. Have you understood how the JW org explains the Bible stating Jesus giving his life for all people, past and present, and still they find it necessary to have an organization that preaches people must pledge allegiange to them or otherwise they face annihilation?
Hi Maria... you've really hit at the undercurrent of this entire show. There is NO explanation for their claim, in fact, it is in direct conflict with what Jesus said regarding this subject. Any reason they give is dishonest. Jesus only preached a personal relationship with him.
Do they REALLY think after all the war and guts and blood and fireballs and explosions they show in their own magazines that they’ll walk immediately right into a Paradise Earth? How? Will the Governing Body be cleaning up the mess!?
The GB does not realize how much shame and reproach they bring upon the name of Jehovah and Jesus with their over the counter doctrines, and 2 witness rule with CSA. Had to put this 1 in here.
I’m not sure their god is the true God of the Bible
Always a great pleasure listening to each of your videos completely. Thanks a lot. 👍
Thank you!
I guess I'll have to cancel my order of 1 koala, 1 lion and 1 giraffe.
I had to give up my dreams of a pet lion :(
Great job Stacy!!!!! 💯
Thank you me bearded friend!
Once you realize the whole religion is a lie..you start looking at the people who have been living this lie.
Some of whom you've trusted with your deepest secrets. 😮
Ooohhhhh, very good topic for a future episode!
Small lies aren't acceptable either. Because what a small lie is to one person may be a massive lie to another, is subjective to the liar. Depending on their moral compass. Then again imagine if every time someone believes the paradise lie that counts as a separate lie. Millions of lies in that case...
You're absolutely right!
My mom has schizophrenia 😪. Just realized that coming home as an adult. Not sure if it is because of the religion or if she is drawn to it for that reason. Not uncommon for witnesses to recieve that diagnoses
I'm so sorry :(....it's all too common
Beautiful way of explaining this. I heard that the paradise was not earthly but couldn’t find any videos on it or information, but till now! you nailed it! Good job 👏 thanks 🙏
Thank you so much! This information is just what I needed. This has been one of my biggest hang ups and feel relief understanding those scriptures better.
You're welcome Leslie! I hope you can find some comfort, this is a very tough issue!
Jesus be like
“Hey guys take care of my mom while I’m gone k”
But when it comes to the “Paradise Earth™️”
“I forgor 💀”
Right???? It's crazy lol
Oh dear, i have only read a few comments and although i studied, was never baptised, something always held me back at the last minute. BUT...... i am a Christian with no congregation, and i totally 100 per cent. Believe in Jeshua ( Jesus) and all he promised and all he did. Of course we can live forever.......i cant remember the exact scientist who said this, but before my LORD i promise you its true, an eminent scientist from a topfacility said the following, and put it in print : " thing is, we dont know WHY DEATH OCCURS, OR WHY THE AGING PROCESS BEGINS, the human cell has everything it needs to keep regenerating.....to go on forever, its as though something stepped in and tweaked or reprogrammed it ......we simply cannot understand WHY DEATH OCCURS". And folks i believe that we can indeed keep going, because it is SCIENTIFICALLY VIABLE, indeed theres more to support eternal life than there is death!. I am a university educated person, people often comment on my "intelligence".....which is strange to me but i do find most people to be insufferably stupid......mjusst in case you presume me to be a moron. I am a retired psychologist. We can indeed live forever, as Christ promised, try not to throw away the Creators entire manual just because jws got it so wrong. Jesus came to show us how to live and to tell us what was going to happen and to prove it, all of which He did.
Thank you for being here!! You have such a fascinating background! I'm glad you were able to avoid JWs..... it can be a lot to heal from!
Excellent point! 1935 for Bible(book)holding JW to be fascinated about paradise on earth. So did this Bible God wait for another century with new technology for selling his hope by NETWORK, iPads?😅.What next needed till paradise come😂Oh, Ramapo😮My super indoctrinated family is donating for this😢
OH NO, I wish your family would wake up and not give them a dime!! Oh yes and the theme park down under......I barely recognize this 'religion'
Thank you..well done.
I red some comments on Isaias prophecy and what it means for us. Something that helped me understand that, is mention in Hebrews 1:1-2. long ago God spoke to our forefathers, (jews ancestors, not to us) by means of the prophets (Isaias included), but now ( first century) he (God) has spoken to us ( Paul and christians) by means of his son. So, according to Paul, what Isaias wrote is not for us. 1:18:03
It makes you wonder why they wrote two books on Isaiah, huh? ;)
Mathew 24:4&5
4 In answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you, 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many
This warning is about the Governing Body Jehovah's Witnesses! How do they mislead? By replacing Jesus with Organisation, Governing Body rule!
That's all I have to comment on. I was there even before 1975, I'm surprised I am still alive and fairly healthy 😅 but I was only stupid for most of my life. Back when Moses delivered the Isrealites, not everyone was a Levite Priests. Most were just normal relatives of Abrahamic Covenant. Just normal Jews trying to be obedient like me. Even though imperfect making mistakes!
Well said Universe! So many applications!
I remember when my mom died in December 2021 of cancer my uncle who is jw kept telling me oh your gonna see your mom again in the new world I knew he was full of shit
Just reading that makes me both angry and terribly sad. so sorry Isaac.
And the fact we now know that we got duped… it’s actually something we can take as a win- we figured it out and got out- however it happened!
It's a difficult realization......these guys know what they're doing!
Mathew 5:5 was a surprise. I laughed about paradise earth but the mild temper ones that kind of sad! We grew up believing that was for the great crowd who inherit the earth!
I still have this book. It plays on your mind.
An all time classic, many of us grew up on that book
Jesus said in John 14:3 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.
Bingo....not a paradise earth ;)
Well done. Well done ....
Thank you Andisols!
"Not cool enough to be in heaven"!? You made me spit out my coffee!
LOL, sorry 'bout that!
Hello Stacey, I have listened to this episode 3 times, as I think it's one of your most important, really mind blowing.
I just wondered how you would answer a JW who refers to at the end of the 1000 years, New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth in Revelation. I think some adventist religions believe that the earth is desolate for a 1000 years, and at the end of 1000 years God's Kingdom comes down to restore the earth.
Be interested in your thoughts, or maybe a subject for a podcast?
BTW is there anyway to DM you? Kind regards Denis
Thank you Denis! I appreciate you! That is definitely worth an entire episode. There are several lines of thought regarding the New Heavens/New Earth commentary in Revelation. I do recommend taking a scholarly approach to everything Revelation due to the nature of the book, context, etc. Elaine Pagels has some interesting theory on the background, you can find some of her stuff here on UA-cam! Definitely worth a deeper dive, but yes, you're correct on the Adventist background, which Russell stole from
One thing that has me confused is why is it in the past that every single time I pray to Jehovah God he answer every single prayer? I mean I literally ask for specific things and each thing was answer quickly. So if Jehovah God does not exists and the governing body has been wrong this entire time, who have I been praying to that has asnwer every single prayer? Sometimes I am scare that maybe is the devil who is brainwashing all of us pimo's and ex-jw into thinking we were in the wrong religion all of this time and then armageddon comes and we all die from seperating from Jehovah God and we start to pray to Jehovah and beg him for forgiveness for falling into Satan trap and start believing all of the apostate comments. Or I could be completely wrong, and maybe it was Jesus answering my prayers and he forgave me for calling him Jehovah because he knew that I did not know any better. I'm so confused.
Lots of love to you and be very patient with yourself. If you've been raised a JW it takes time and often professional help through therapy, etc. to unwind the many fearful emotions. I like to start very simple and I also like to admit to my agnostic take on all things religion. Prayer is intimate and encouraged in many religions, but using just JWs as your basis, I encourage you to unravel it slowly, starting at the beginning. Start here: "Where does Jesus tell his followers to pray to a god named Jehovah?" I don't want to confuse you by explaining the power of thought, placebo or anything else when it comes to 'answered prayers'..... I always say start with the main characters involved: you mentioned Jehovah and Satan. In any intimate relationship, you seek to know EVERY detail of someone, even more so when dedicating your life to someone (Jehovah)......what does the Bible teach about him. Go slow.
God exists. He knows we love him and the masonic governing body have deceived us. with false prophecies,.
Thank you and -as always- it was great! You make me laugh…..
Thanks Beauty, my humor is off the wall!
@@survivingparadisepodcast it sure is, I love it!! Keep the videos coming!,!!!
After leaving and not investigating the teachings, practically POMI (while recently I also came to the realisation that I actually never believed...), I mostly felt guilty I was letting my parents go to paradise without their youngest daughter. So I got to accept already I’d not go there after dying (aparently I didn’t really think Armageddon was near, besides wondering about it 2 specific moments (shootings in Paris and start of the war in Ukraine where on the news I saw a br at the trainstation with their logo)).
Learning that it’s a false teaching, for me, goes into the bucket ”not very surprising”. Though if you strongly believed and hoped for this and then learn it’s false... I can imagine it’s very tough and has a big impact, also on how you look at life and the future 😥
You're far from alone Naomi! We all have had to grapple with all of those emotions, particularly around elderly parents. I'm glad you're out and hope you're healing!
@@survivingparadisepodcast i got out early enough (~24 and unmarried) to not have seen or experience the really dark side of it. Also lucky enough my mom blocked the elders from continueing to talk with me after a first one in the B school where I didn’t talk, only cried.
@@naomiwillemsen9836 some of my worst memories, young women bawling and scared :(
@@survivingparadisepodcast I can imagine as a former elder there’s also a lot to process 😥 have you / do you want to contact those you had been on the committee for?
@@naomiwillemsen9836 Wow, great question Naomi! I have had the urge, but to be honest, would it shock you to know that most of those I dealt with ended up leaving like I did? Some have found me on social media and told me they left!
Thank you Stacey. It fascinates me that the vast majority of practicing JW's never look into the history of their organization, they don't even want to. Quite a while ago, I typed into Google, "Origin of Jehovah's Witnesses" I was shocked, and I know that I turned pale with what I found out, literally. I looked deeper, thinking this can't be right. The more I researched, the more I found that my conscience would not permit me to stay in this organization any longer. I wrote a letter stating that I could no longer be a JW, and why, with documentation. I sent the letter to Bethel, Ha Ha, never herd a word back. At least my life has been free from that time on. This is from a girl who pioneered, all in etc. Never again.
It's so true Gisella! MOST never even look into their history, but spend their lives supporting something they no nothing about! It's a mind blower! I'm so glad you did some research and RAN! Oh yeah, they'll never answer you....LOL, what could they say??
Charles Taze Russell though studying the Bible LIVED AND DIED A FREE MASON.
Hello Stacy! I am your age. Was born third generation in jw cult. I wrote my D A letter when I was 17 years old. I was shunned at home. I was escaping on the/my bicycle 🚲 every day. They're didn't give me a chance to find a job... I was kicked out on the street without a penny in my pockets. I had my backpack 🎒. It was in 1986..... I don't regret it. I had bad people... I found good people. I survived a serial killer. I don't know why. I was talking about it with 2 guys tonight and they told me that I deserved to live. 😢 don't worry, the barmaid gave me a lift to my place ❤ I have the guilt of the survivor and one of the guys told me to stop worrying about it. I am alive to tell the story. I deserve to be alive... I can't believe that the 5 young women who died before me didn't deserve to live. Anyway, like the barmaid said: they are nice just until they are not. I know too much about that. I used to be beaten by men because I was so naive and gullible.
I am just hoping that I can tell young women and men the secret to escape Evil 😈 ones. I don't have a magic potion. I escaped another one. Hitchhiking... I said that I will piss all over in his van... he let me out to pee and I was running 🏃♀️, naked in the forest and found a house 🏠.... I was naked and trying to hide myself... they didn't let me in. It was in the 80ties. I think that those people were anything but nice// anyway: they did what I asked : calling 📞 the ☎️ Police. I stayed at least one hour on the the lake/my feet in the lake// when the police 🚔 came: I didn't want to go. Glad that they had a woman... gave me a blanket to cover me... I didn't want to go. The lady police helped me. They took me to the hospital 🏥. They tried to call my " family " ..... I said NO! The only family I had was my chosen Dad. I knew his phone number. He was there in the middle of the night with clothes that his wife gave me. I love ❤️ her so much 💓 too. We are family... no shrink believed me. They told me that jw's are nice people who suck knocking on their doors 🚪... in 1986, I was not believed. ANYWAY, just saying... /// I had good 👍 people in my life too! 😮
OMG Natasha, I'm so glad you escaped!!! Unbelievable!! You very much deserve to be alive, so glad you're safe and free from a cult that put you in that position!!
@Surviving Paradise thank you 😊... I really appreciate your videos. You're making me cringe, be sad and mad 😠 😡 😤
BUT: mostly, you are making me laugh! That's so important in life ❣️
@@natashapeeters988 I'm a BIG believer in laughing!! Thanks Natasha, I'm glad I'm not alone or just laughing at myself LOL!
Heart-breaking ♡. How are you now?
Very interesting Paradise Stuff !
Thank you Jj!
Very interesting, I used to take it for granted that Jesus believed in a paradise earth as that was what was impressed upon my mind as a child. I have never understood how God could expect Adam and Eve to be happy prancing around in the Garden of Eden forever and ever. I much prefer the Gnostic Christian texts which were banned by the upcoming orthodox church. They portray the God of the Old testament as cruel wanting to keep humanity bound to the earthly realm so he could have power over them; reminds me of the Govering Body. The snake is even seen as the good guy and represents Jesus for in fact the snake did not lie, for Adam and Eve's eyes were opened and they became as Gods (A subject for another podcast perhaps.....Hint! )
LOVE those reads! So many fascinating points to consider. God was more like the Greek gods....petty and insecure!
Yes it's the biggest lie and without it practically all slaves would leave
TRuTH!
Thanks for sharing. In Isaias 65: 17-25 it say we are to look for this new heaven and new earth. The former confusions, sins and miseries of the human race, shall be no more remembered or renewed. My opinion is the scriptures are talking about the future 🤔
Completely respect your beliefs and thanks for listening Sophia! I always encourage people to consider context, including that chapter, who it was written to, etc. Most scholars consider that a Jewish restoration prophecy
@@survivingparadisepodcast Alright i get it
There was a lot Jesus didn’t reveal to his disciples at that time. He didn’t reveal Armageddon coming. He didn’t reveal king of north or south. He came to earth to die and preach of a heavenly hope for mankind at that time. Having said that, I do wonder why in revelation it mentions 24 elders being around the throne of God ( meant to picture all 144000 together before thrown) and the 144000 is then understood by jws as being literal.? If 24 elders not taken as a literal number then why is 144000 taken as literal?
I think you may like tomorrows new episode ;) I would respectfully challenge anyone to explain why Jesus mentions only heaven as a hope, including for faithful men and women of old, but JW's say he changed his mind in 1935 in the 20th century and added a hope for the earth. The Bible only teaches a heavenly hope and even mentioned people died long before Jesus
@@survivingparadisepodcast yes, I will have to think about this more. It’s like as if the Bible wasn’t written for those with an earthly hope but just a heavenly hope? When I read the Bible, I don’t see a message to me if I don’t have a heavenly hope. Then out from nowhere John writes the book of revelation
@@UKS12345 I definitely encourage study. The Bible does not teach a paradise earth, it only entered the convo in 1935 and respectfully, Revelation doesn't teach it either. JW leadership has lifted things out of context and tried to make them apply to JW's....I cover that in tomorrow's episode a bit... they teach some things are literal and other figurative, without ANY supporting evidence. Keep searching! :)
Great job. Thank you.
thank you Imira!!
Love the picture of the tower on the cover
Our show logo? Not very subtle, is it? 🤣😂
JWs and Their Obsession with Paradise Earth
The Watchtower teaches an earthly paradise of obedient mankind, where there is an abundance of peace, an endless supply of food and perfect weather conditions. However, in the Watchtower paradise there is no place for Jesus, as the JWs believe they’ll live in paradise while Jesus, invisible for JWs, will be in the heavens busy providing for their needs from above.
JWs say it’s OK for them never to see or talk to Jesus while expecting all sorts of services from him. The JW attitude to Jesus is like a girl who is waiting to marry a fine young man who has promised to come to marry her one day. Sure enough, one day the man comes to tell her he is in love with her and wants to marry her. The girl asks him: Where are we going to live? Do you have a house for me to live in? The man answers he hopes he is the best thing she wants and that a house is a secondary thing in their relationship. But the girl insists she wants to know where she is going to live. The man consoles her by telling her that he has prepared a house for them to live in. The girl asks whether the house has the latest and best amenities, uninterrupted air-conditioning and whether there is plenty of food in the house. The man answers in the affirmative. OK, says the girl. I’ll marry you and will move to the house on condition the house is located in the neighborhood that I have become accustomed to live in but you won’t live in that house. Why won’t I? Asks the man. Because I have no need to be with you. What I want from you in exchange for marrying you is your services. And as I am not dying to be with you or see you, you can live at some remote place in any foreign country and work there to send me money and stuff.
In the transfiguration episode, the apostle Peter said to Jesus” “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Peter did not care where he was. What mattered to him was who he was with. Interestingly, in the flesh and blood episode, the apostle Peter did not ask the Lord: “where shall we go?” Rather, he asked: “whom shall we go to?” The idea of being left without or not being with Lord Jesus was totally unacceptable for the apostles. Jesus promises the robber on his right hand: “...you shall be with me in paradise.” The Lord did not say the robber would be in paradise without Jesus. Rather, he promised the robber would be in paradise together with him.
When Paul gives a definition of eternal life in the episode of the second coming of the Lord, he tells us at 2 Thessalonians 4:17: “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” For the Apostle Paul (as well as for all the Christians and the righteous of old), paradise was to be with the Lord for ever.
Paradise is primarily a condition of heart yearning to be with the Lord ALWAYS (not like Adam who got bored being in the presence of his creator) and then a place. While still in paradise, Adam suffered the passions of the hell - he started fearing God, felt OK being far from God, being in “hiding” from God. This shows the problem was not in some place but in the condition of heart - Adam suffered pain by being close to his creator. Therefore, God showed him mercy by letting him and his wife leave paradise.
At Revelation 21:3,4 the mankind is assured that God’s dwelling place is now among the people: “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. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
The JWS who feel OK by expecting to live in an earthly paradise for billions of years have signed for never ever seeing their Lord Jesus Christ. They are like Adam and Eve who feel OK and relieved in the absence of their creator. The hell is also understood primarily as a condition of heart (lack of desire to be with Lord Jesus, or suffering or torment caused by being close to or in the presence of the Lord and then the place of the unrepentant ones.
In the Demons and the Pigs episode at Matthew 8:29, the demons suffered when they got close to Jesus: “And, behold, they cried out, saying, “What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" For Christians, paradise is being together with and beholding their Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 4:17), and hell is being (even OK) without their Lord and not seeing their Lord. At Luke 23:43, the Lord expressly promises that His believers will be in paradise together with Him, not without Him. Yet. JWs feel OK not to have the Lord in their “paradise” and never see Him, even admitting they are not interested in heavenly life as if the Heavens were a place for the devil.
Even though the Lord also expressly teaches that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be in the kingdom of the heavens and Revelation 7:9 affirms that a multitudinous crowd will also be before the throne of God in heavens (just like the 144000 who are also before the throne of God - compare with Revelation 14:9), the Watchtower insists on an earthly paradise for its members, thus effectively shutting from them the door to the Kingdom of Heavens to be with God.
Accurate breakdown!
Awesome synapses, very well said, thank you.
@@mattmurdock2868 thanks Matt!
I think they also gaslight people by saying that the New Testament and Jesus' teaching about heaven was primarily written to the anointed. I remember feeling so confused when I would read those scriptures about heaven and trying to convince myself of the earthly "hope" by reminding myself that these comments were for the anointed but that also makes u feel less as well because they make u feel like the anointed are more important and you can benefit from the scraps left over. God awful organization.
YES!! SO true....everything is about them...it causes a pile of problems for all of us. And of course, it's all a lie!
In reality, no one can say what actually happens to us after death. You say we will never see our dead loved ones again. NO ONE KNOWS THAT. We agree that most of WATCHTOWER teaches is untrue. But the Bible is very questionable from Genesis forward. If you scrutinize the first four chapters of Genesis, reading word for word very slowly, NOTHING is answered, but everything stated, does not make sense in any way. So if Genesis is unexplainable and makes no sense, how can anything else make sense in the rest of the Bible. The God of the Bible is NOT a nice person. I would not have a fleshly human friend if he was like God.
Humans have no true answers of what happens to anyone after death. There are no referrals from someone that came back to tell everyone. So anyone claiming they know, is just guessing and presuming based on no evidence, they should just let it lie without presumptions.
ALL TRUE! If you want to have some fun, take Genesis One and compare it to Genesis Two....have a great time LOL. No one does know, true. We only know that what JW's teach isn't taught by anyone else...and they have no foundation for it. Oh, the God of the Bible is a fun subject....
"...wear meeting clothes forever" 🤣
LOL, LOL......sounds like HELL right?
Hey Stacey that was an amazing synopsis of this big LIE. Any well versed theology expert can easily dismantle their claims, but it usually appeals to people's emotions in a vulnerable state. I never got to be an elder because it started to unravel for me when I became a ministerial servant and began to really delve into the bible. I had to give a talk on the book of Hebrews and that was a game changer. The writer never ever expressed any different hope for the faithful of old than for the anointed first century christians. He even said that Abraham was a temporary resident living in tents waiting for the real city in HEAVEN! Hebrews 11:16.
Another interesting note is how Revelation 19:1 speaks of the great crowd in heaven. The JW explanations were so bad it was shocking!
But as time goes on, science is showing us how long human beings have been here on earth, so let's make the most of the little time we have left! Keep up the great work!
Thanks RY!! You're exactly right.....one of the oldest sales techniques ever! Emotions! YES, their teaching on Rev 19 needs an entire episode. The level of absurdity is off the charts -- "hey I'm standing in the living room"....."no you're not, you're in the kitchen".....it's unreal
Do you believe in life after death , resurrection. Etc etc 😊
Great question Ron! I'm very agnostic and open to exploration. I'm not sure what I believe about those subjects. It's a very gray area and one that many former JWs struggle with, me included. I love the convo though!
RE: Teaching not in the Bible... Good question! If the paradise on Earth teaching is not in the Bible, where this doctrine comes from is extremely important ... it leads to what are you actually worshipping?? The heavenly class teachings were promoted also by Charles Taze Russell, whom I suspect borrowed these beliefs from elsewhere. CTR wrote about the heavenly classes of people in his book "The Divine Plan of the Ages as Shown in the Great Pyramid". CTR calls the pyramid a "stone witness" that was built by a "servant" of g-d named Melchizedek who used Egyptian labor in its construction. CTR says jehovah uses the great pyramid to communicate prophecy and spiritual truths to mankind. The reason you can't find where these teachings came from, and can't find evidence to support this doctrine, is because they did not come from the Bible.
GREAT points Thrifty...he borrowed heavily from the Adventists in the late 1800s. The paradise/great crowd stuff started in 1935 with Rutherford. Completely fabricated and sold as a fact
Many are called, a few are chosen
Wide door leads to destruction
a tale of two roads!
@@survivingparadisepodcast your choice which road to take...
Amen
@@vinniegg Hi Rare! Respect to you, have you thought about starting a podcast on your beliefs/journey?
@survivingparadisepodcast 87
Actually I would love to do that because my life the way it has turned out right now has been completely organic. None of it was forced. In fact much of the way it has turned out hasn't really even been my choice so to speak. Based on what I gather from your personality through these podcasts, I feel you would be fascinated by it or at least very interested in the thought process of what got me to where I am today.
I was a JW from birth, and left the organization about the age of 45 about 7 or 8 years ago. I was in Elder / ministerial servant for nearly 25 years. I gave talks on the circuit assemblies every year. When I left that organization, based on what I heard, it was traumatic for those that knew me. To this day people are still shocked.
In Ecclesiastes it states that a generation is going and a generation is coming but the earth abideth forever. Therefore, if the earth abideth forever, couldn't it be made a paradise?
This falls in the 'all things are possible' conversation...but science says otherwise. Also, just looking at the scripture we need to take into account who wrote it and when. There is also a lot of studying to be done on context, as well as what the writer thought 'earth' was at the time. Short of Jesus teaching a hope that would impact BILLIONS (not just 144,000) it's impossible to come to the conclusions that JW's have. It simply isn't in the Bible
Yes, I agree that a lot of studying has to be done, but who has the time? When you are a single parent of 4, and you have to make a living, there is no time, and I guess, these writers know that time is of the essence which single parents don't have, hence we can be fooled.
@@Coral-lu5hi Don't fee bad Coral! My mother raised three of us alone and candidly, she didn't study at all. She know next to nothing about the religion....how could she, she was raising three kids by herself and working!! Don't let them make you feel guilty! Besides, they only want you to study THEIR books!
Son of a bitch. You got me at the end. I may have had a tear or two.
I'm with you brother. It was a tough one to get through...no shame in some tears, I drop them all the time!
The 83 Wtr Oct 15th, pg 4 that you quote is different.
Please look at it now. They changed the last line of your quote.
Thanks Reuben will take a look!
Please explain to me the scripture Isaiah 11:6,7 which states that the Lion will eat straw just like the Bull. the Wolf will reside for a while with the male lamb. I know this does not mean that there will be a paradise Earth.??? I am still a little confuse with this. Way did God create an Earth for humans? And create Human Beings? So they can SIN and be destroyed? God doesn't change. If his purpose at ONE TIME was to create a Planit with Humen people, Flesh and Blood than just do away with it COMPLETELY, DOESENT MAKE SENCE! I am NOT a JW but I do know the Bible.
Many, many different views on this verse, but it definitely doesn't mean an earthly paradise living with Jehovah's Witnesses! Many scholars believe it ties in with Messianic prophecies regarding Jesus (lion and lamb) ....lots of good stuff out there on that chapter!
God is going to create a new heaven and new earth.
Isaiah 65:17-25 to Isaiah 66:1 is what I used to sell to people at the door about the “paradise on Earth” using that little tract with the child petting the panda. Can’t recall the title 😂
Edit: It’s clear it was about Jewish expectations when I read it in context. The Jews/Israelites had no heavenly aspirations EVER!
OH yes, I believe I posted a picture of that very tract in the Community channel of this site!
I just started listening..wow..these are exactly all the things I was thinking..glad to have my thoughts validated..so now here's THE BIG QUESTION. WHERE'S OUR HOPE. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE..WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN I'm curious and appreciate some direction
Ron
Hi Ron, glad you're here!! That is a HUGE question and one of the most common once a JW leaves. It will be a journey my friend. There are no easy answers, but there never were. We were duped. I strongly encourage therapy and to go SLOW! You're going to ride a rollercoaster, especially if you were raised from childhood as a JW....this will shock your system!! Go slow and realize that it will take time.....