Evacuated

Hi Holly, I endorse the statements of Eion above.  I don't have time now to go into detail. I am dressing now to attend the convention.
 
Eion, the following statement is Holly's and not mine. "Not so with the rest of JWs. Their faith in Jesus evidently doesn't give Jehovah the confidence to grant them immortality and he isn't so sure that they won't ever sin again ".
What I was glad to see is that Holly and Shiwii have the ability to research the online research to get opinions from the Watchtower but I don't think they are getting the correct understanding still from what they are quoting.  Thanks for answering.
 
Kind regards and Agape
 
 
Melinda
 

Hoag’s Object is a mysterious, ring-shaped galaxy located about 600 million light-years away from the Earth in the direction of the Serpens Caput (Serpent’s Head) constellation. Its diameter is about 100,000 light-years. It consists of an outer ring and an inner ball of densely packed stars. The two are separated by a gap, as can be seen in the above Hubble Space Telescope picture of the galaxy. The outer bluish ring is thought to consist of younger stars, whereas the inner yellowish ball is thought to consist of older stars. What created this unusual shape of the galaxy still remains a mystery. ***(See below)*** BUT!!!! A very interesting coincidence is the presence of yet another ring galaxy located far, far behind the Hoag’s Object; it is visible through the gap between its outer ring and its inner ball, roughly near the “one o'clock” position! Do you see it?
As Jehovahs people our hearts and even our eyes swell up with joy seeing such things because we know Jehovah is the creator of such a miraculous, mysterious creation. How do you feel knowing without a doubt that one day you are going to be able to ask our father the Great Almighty, What, why, how? Does it have to do with things here on earth? (Meaning does it align the way the earth is centered anything???? what is it’s purpose!? Does it have one? Does it just keep new stars in the sky? We will have that grand privileged to ask such questions. I’m really excited about that. And I can’t wait for me, just like you as an individual to be honored with that privilege! What would you ask Jehovah?
View the full article

Ad well as misrepresenting the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, this statement appears to confuse the concepts of immortality in the heavens and everlasting life on earth. I don't think it is necessary to revisit the many scriptures already quoted to establish the fact that the vast majority of human servants of Jehovah will live on earth as humans, but without the curse of sin and it's companion death.
The word in scripture for immortality (athanasia) is said to mean deathlessness as a quality of life. Because it goes hand in hand with incorruption, (1 Cor.15:53), the description at Heb.7:16 of Jesus having indissoluble life ("indestructible" NWT, rather than the weak "endless" in KJV) is apt. This is the quality or nature of life he enjoys and also is enjoyed by the 144000 who are resurrected to rule with him in the heavens.
However, by it's very nature, human life cannot be immortal. As long as humans are alive on earth, which will be forever (Ps.37:29), they will need to breath the right mix of gases, eat the right balance of nutrients, sleep when tired, eliminate waste products, repair worn or damaged tissue, and do whatever else is required to maintain physically the organism with which Jehovah endowed his human creation. And then, their obedience to the requirements of the creator, for whose purpose they were created and given that living organism, will ensure that that grant of life will be, just as the Bible says, everlasting but never immortal.

Why don't you post the book here?

I'm having trouble finding anything particularly sinister in these comments. I'm hearing a man saying that if youths felt they were mature enough to have a driving licence but weren't ready to consider dedication and baptism, then maybe their priorities needed adjustment.
However, to say this is promoting the encouraging of youths to get baptized in exchange for a driving licence??? That would be an own foot shot in my book and a recipe for spiritual disaster. Maybe someone would be idiotic enough to think such a strategy would work and save them the chore of having a Bible Study with their child, but I'm not hearing that suggestion here.

A view of many who are not Jehovah's Witnesses presumably. 
Young people who sincerely dedicate their lives to Jehovah do not plan to fail in fulfilling their promise. For many, the home and congregational environment they enjoy is geared to support them in fulfilling their dedication. Young people who apply themselves to being spiritually focused in this way do not miss out on anything wholesome in their lives. The many photos shown on this jw-archive of young people enjoying theocratic activity seem to bear this out. Certainly in my own experience, many young people I know, baptized at an early age, are living happy, productive, well balanced, and successful lives, quite convinced that their early decision has led them to the "best life ever".
 

There is no easy answer to this. It depends entirely on where you are located (a fact you do not provide). Average household numbers vary greatly depending on statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it (demographics). For example there may be an average household count in an area based on overall figures, but this number will vary greatly on a local level depending on average age, income distribution, ethnic origin, property type etc. 
This will always be a "guesstimate" at best. It will also depend on how organised administratively the area is in which your territory falls. 
Figures are often available from central and/or local authorities in developed countries. One method, is to get the population of an area and divide by the number of households. Some local authorities will have a record of how many domestic tax bills they send out which is useful if they bill households rather than individuals. Census records will give a population count. Land registry records and registers of electors can be useful although not exhaustive.
Just searching your area on Google with phrases like "population of..." and "number of households in..." etc will give many results, but they will never be completely accurate as there is always a delay in publishing, not everyone provides data etc. You will then see just how variable the information is. Take a look at this website for example: https://suburbanstats.org/
 However, bear in mind that congregation territory boundaries do not necessarily follow those of the civil authorities, so the best persons to ask would be your local service overseer and the pioneers in your congregation.

1972_-_Paradise_Restored_to_Mankind_By_Theocracy.pdf

Personally I would never grab my jw.org button and pray to Jehovah with it. I would never wear it as a symbol of the Christ .  I would not hang it in my house or in my car for a form of protection. And I would only direct ones to it as a teaching tool that leads them to their bibles and the truth Jesus taught according to jehovahs direction. These are the last days and Jehovah is trying to reach every searching soul. Disciples of truth. Just my two scents?

Prompted by Shiwii and JWInsider I gave further consideration to this. I think the problem is that I was thinking about and using the words  Mediator and Intercessor/Advocate interchangeably. But they are different. Mediator is more a legal term. Moses mediated the Old Covenant; Jesus mediated the New Covenant.  The covenanters for the Law Covenant – fleshly Israel; for the New Covenant, spiritual Israel  (anointed Christians).
 
Non-Israelites benefited from the Law Covenant and those of the other sheep benefit from the New Covenant.  No one is left in the cold. (See Watchtower article in previous post and Bro Joyce’s comment.)
 
Mediator – definition - one that mediates; especially :  one that mediates between parties at variance
Mediator – One who interposes between parties in order to reconcile them.
(Job 9:33 - 33 If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us  together,)
Advocate – definition - a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
Intercessor – definition - A person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer:
JESUS OUR INTERCESSOR
However, whether we are of the heavenly calling or of the other sheep, we need daily an Intercessor. That person is Jesus Christ.
(Hebrews 7:25) 25 So he is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.
 
 (John 14:6) Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
(Acts 4:12) 12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
 
*** w57 8/15 p. 502 par. 12 The Fight of Faith of the Peaceable ***
 
12 Jehovah’s justice is manifest in the provision he has made for life for men of all kinds as a free gift through faith. This is not received because of prayers that some can afford to pay for while others cannot. The same Mediator and Intercessor, Christ Jesus, who is also our Redeemer, can be called upon by all who desire to worship Jehovah with spirit and truth. While many persons by their point of view deny the power of God, Jehovah’s witnesses recognize the illimitable power of the Creator of the universe.
 
 
*** w02 9/15 pp. 5-6 How Can True Saints Help You? ***
However, God has appointed an Intercessor for our prayers. “I am the way and the truth and the life,” said Jesus Christ. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus also stated: “Whatever it is that you ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:6, 13, 14) We can be confident of Jehovah’s willingness to hear prayers offered in Jesus’ name. Concerning Jesus, the Bible says: “He is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead [“be interceding,” footnote] for them.”—Hebrews 7:25.
…
The Bible teaches us that through Jesus we can have “freeness of speech and an approach with confidence” in prayer to God. (Ephesians 3:11, 12) Almighty God is not too distant or removed from mankind to hear our prayers. The psalmist David confidently prayed: “O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come.” (Psalm 65:2) Rather than transmitting power through the relics of deceased “saints,” Jehovah pours out his holy spirit upon those asking for it in faith. Jesus reasoned: “If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”—Luke 11:13.
 
INTERCESSION WILL CEASE AFTER ATTAINMENT OF PERFECTION
 
*** w13 3/15 p. 23 par. 18 Jehovah—Our Place of Dwelling ***
18 In the new world just ahead, Jehovah will become “a real dwelling” for his people in yet another sense. Says Revelation 21:3: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them.” Initially, Jehovah will reside with his earthly subjects representatively by means of Christ Jesus. At the end of the thousand years, Jesus will hand the Kingdom over to his Father, having fully accomplished God’s purpose for the earth. (1 Cor. 15:28) Thereafter, perfected mankind will no longer need Jesus as an intercessor; Jehovah will be with them. What a wonderful prospect lies before us! In the meantime, then, let us strive to imitate the faithful generations of old by making Jehovah our “real dwelling.”
====
There may yet be further clarification on this, since all men were alienated from God when Adam sinned, not just the Israelites; (the Law given to Israel just being a tutor leading to Christ), hence they would all need to be reconciled to God as shown in Colossians 1:18-20; hence mediation for all mankind would have been needed. 
 
 
 
 

I do not recall an announcement on jw.org as to the fact that the "Great Tribulation has already started". I think that might have got the attention of many if so.
There is likely quite a history to understanding of the timing of the "great tribulation". JW Insider might be able to provide a synopsis of this.
My first recollection on this subject is what was said in the 1966 book Life Everlasting in the Freedom of the Sons of God which stated on page 357 para 29: "The "great tribulation" that Jesus Christ predicted in harmony with Daniel 12:l began in the year 1914 C.E.". Later in the book (page 371 para 54) it was stated "that Jehovah God had cut short the days of tribulation in the year 1918 to permit the sealing of the remnant of the "chosen ones" and the gathering of the "great crowd,".
This view has been considerably adjusted in the interim years.
Some recent discussion on jw.org regarding the great tribulation can be found here: 
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/jesus-prophecy-last-days/
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20150715/rapture-anointed-great-tribulation/
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/gods-kingdom/promises/kingdom-enemies-removed/

Thanks for posting.
Just did a little more research on this picture and found information on line that seems to be true:
Standing left to right: Ernest Wilson V. Kuehn; Dr. Leslie W. Jones; Gen. William P. Hall; Professor Frederick H. Robison; Robert B. Maxwell; J. T. D. Pyles.  The three men without "titles" were all wealthy merchants.  Kuehn was a seed company owner from Toledo, who was the country's foremost expert on clover.  Maxwell was a well-to-do mercantile storeowner and bank boardmember from Mansfield, Ohio.  Pyles was the Washington D.C. owner of one of the largest chain of grocery stores the country.  Interestingly, Maxwell died only a few weeks after returning from the World Tour . . .
Kuehn, Jones, and Robison eventually disassociated themselves from the Watch Tower Society after Russell's death. However, to the best of my knowledge, when William Preble Hall died in 1927, he was still loyal to the Watch Tower Society. . . . 
General William Preble Hall was not only a career officer in the United States Military, but in fact, during the time Hall was an active member of the Watch Tower Society, Hall held the rank of Brigadier General, plus he served as ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL at military headquarters in Washington D.C.  In fact, while General Hall was on the Watch Tower World Tour, his boss General Ainsworth took early retirement, and General Hall was appointed to run the U. S. Military as its ADJUTANT GENERAL until Hall's own scheduled retirement in June 1912.
  William Preble Hall was one of the more prominent figures in the United States Military between the time of the American Civil War and World War I.  Hall came from a prominent Missouri family.  Hall's father was a respected Judge, and Hall's brother later became a U.S. Congressman.  Hall, a widower, re-married the daughter of  U.S. Senator Blackburn from Kentucky on November 12, 1890. Therese Blackburn Stewart Hall (also her second marriage) was extremely active in Washington social circles. Wedding attendees included a General, an Admiral, a Supreme Court Justice. Grover Cleveland sent a gift.   Hall fought against Choshise and other Apache renegades -- losing both soldiers and local settlers in several actions.  In the 1870s and 1880s, Hall served with the 5th Calvary in Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, etc.  Along the way, William Preble Hall distinguished himself as an administrator and manager, and he was assigned Quartermaster duties.  Hall's superiors praised his ability to move men and materials faster than any other Army officer.  When Buffalo Bill Cody killed Cheyenne Chief Yellow Hand in 1876, Hall was in charge of the supply wagon train which Yellow Hand and his band had been stalking.  Buffalo Bill ambushed Yellow Hand just as he was attempting to ambush two of Hall's couriers.  Hall thereafter served as Quartermaster at Fort Laramie for several years in the late 1870s and 1880s.  In July 1881, Hall's first wife, who was living with him at Fort Laramie, died of unknown cause. Kate Conrad Stanton Hall was from a prominent Connecticut family, and her remains were returned there for burial. In the early 1890s, Captain William Preble Hall was assigned the duty of removing the Cherokees from parts of the Oklahoma territory.  
And much more, of course. The source of this is easily found, but not friendly to Witnesses, so I won't provide the direct link.

Thanks. But rather than add details to the history of the how the term "governing body" has been used through the years among "Russellite" Bible Students and Jehovah's Witnesses, I'd like to add some information about this picture.
CORRECTION TO THE "CAPTION"
This is not the "governing body." The "governing body" in 1911, when the picture was taken, would have included the following, who are mentioned in the October 1, 1911 Watchtower that year (and none of them except Russell are in the picture):
The following officers were elected to serve during the ensuing year [1911-1912]: President, Pastor C. T. Russell, of Brooklyn and London; Vice-President, A. I. Ritchie, of Ontario, Canada; Secretary, E. W. Brenneisen, of Texas; Treasurer, W. E. Van Amburgh.
The picture is in the "Library of Congress" collection, and was taken in 1911 (perhaps even 1912) as the "Missions Investigating Committee" who would travel the world on a cruise with C. T. Russell. A highlight of that tour was to include a visit to the Great Pyramid at Giza. Originally the idea was to include the persons mentioned in this quote from the same Watch Tower of October 1, 1911:
Following this Pastor Russell will go on a world's tour and a committee has been selected to accompany him on his journey. The persons invited to serve on this committee are Major-General W. P. Hall, U.S.A.; Mr. E. W. V. Kuehn, of Toledo; Mr. J. T. D. Pyles, of Washington, D.C., and Mr. Charles F. Anderson, of Baltimore, Md. Not all of these gentlemen have positively accepted the responsibilities of this service, but it is confidently expected that they will accept. As the Association pays no salaries, the invitation carries with it the responsibility of all providing for their own expenses.
Evidently, Charles Anderson did not go, but the April 15, 1912 report from the committee includes the following names (also quoted on page 87 of Watson's Magazine June 1914).
In conclusion, your Committee assure you that they have done their very best to accomplish the purpose of their appointment. They thank the Lord, and also the Association, for the great privileges enjoyed in connection with the service.
C. T. RUSSELL, Pres.
Adj.-Gen'l W. P. HALL
F. H. ROBISON, Sec'y
J. T. D. PYLES
E. W. V. KUEHN
R. B. MAXWELL
DR. LESLIE W. JONES
 
If you replace F.H.Robison with Professor F. B. Thompson, this list is the same as the people in the picture. A "Dr. Thompson" had provided reports from the "Holy Land" that had been printed earlier in the Watchtower from a trip several years before.  I believe it is also the same "Thompson" who also joined Russell on another trip to the "Holy Land" from when he was living in Australia, and who stayed on as a colporteur in Jerusalem. As late as 1910, he was still mentioned in the Watchtower as doing this work in Australia. (It also might be worth looking into to see whether the picture really shows F. H. Robison, but is mislabeled as F. B. Thompson, who had perhaps joined them on only a portion of the trip but wasn't available for the picture.)
Here are some more complete versions of their names: Ernest Wilson V. Kuehn, General William Preble Hall, Robert B. Maxwell, J.T.D. Pyles, Dr. Leslie W. Jones, and Professor F. B. Thompson.
Here is a picture of General Hall with his medals:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/William_Preble_Hall.jpg/330px-William_Preble_Hall.jpg

 
A Watch Tower article mentioned his talk at an assembly without his medals:
September 1 was the opening day. General W. P. Hall, U.S.A., gave the opening address, which was quite pithy and to the point, as might have been expected from our famous Philippine warrior. Stripped of his epaulets and honor medals the General looked every inch a preacher. It is said that his Philippine experiences had considerable to do with bringing General Hall into the ranks of Bible Students. His glimpse of heathendom convinced him that the world needs the Kingdom of God's Son, in power and great glory, to accomplish among men things which no human arm or human tongue can bring to pass.
 
J. T. D. Pyles owned stores in Washington D.C. They are advertised in the Washington Herald in January 1917, for example as "all the stores of J T D Pyles."  I assume they were food stores, because he lost a case against the Attorney General in D.C. for selling adulterated lard. In 1916, after Russell died, he wrote an article that was printed in the Watchtower:
 
BY J.T.D. PYLES--WASHINGTON, D.C.
In the city of Washington, whence I came, there are many sad hearts today, on account of the loss sustained in the death of our Beloved Pastor. . . . I have known Brother Russell intimately for twenty years. He has many times been a guest at my home, and I have also been a guest at his home. I was privileged to be associated with him for four months in a tour around the world;
One would not likely be wrong if they get the general impression that the names listed for the trip (and those assigned to the funeral arrangements) were financially well-to-do. The names of Kuehn, Jones and Pyles show up again for the funeral arrangement committee for C. T. Russell in 1916.
 
On a personal note, Dr. Leslie Jones was a friend of my great-grandfather and a friend of the family for a few years. He also handled stenography when traveling with Russell and Rutherford -- even Sister Rutherford, too, on additional occasions. (My great-grandfather joined Russell on the speaking circuit out of the Bible Students' "Chicago Temple." He didn't die until the 1960's but I was too young to ask him the kinds of questions I would ask today.)

This is sad. Understanding the role of Jesus as a Mediator should have been a thrilling insight. It makes no difference to the benefits we gain as a result of the ransom and the hope we have for the future as Christians, whether anointed or not.
This spirit reminds me of the disciples squabbling over seats in the kingdom (Matt 20:20-28). Jesus responded "You do not know what you are asking for"

A sin? that's debatable. However, it seems inappropriate. The divine name is incorporated in the names of many of the characters in the Bible record, but I am unaware of anyone being given or taking taking the sole name of Jehovah for themselves. Perhaps if they had we would have a better idea of it's original pronunciation...... 

No more than when David and Samuel the seer assigned Levites to temple guard duty, or when Nehemiah assigned guards during the Jerusalem wall-rebuilding program. 1 Chron. 9:24; Neh. 4:22-23. (comp Acts 4:1).
 
Certainly is.
Although security guarding is not just about protecting property. Protecting life of building occupants may be involved and of course there are also safety issues in connection with e.g fire, gas and electrical appliances and supply, drainage, water supply issues, etc. The mere presence of security may act as a deterrent to opportunistic intruders. 
 
The society's literature has always advised along the lines of "Your life is your priority. No possession can exceed its value" when confronted by thieves.
Specific instruction would presumably be provided to anyone assigned security responsibilities. Sharing detailed information on those lines may or may not be appropriate on a public forum, so I will leave that to someone else with experience of such things.

Some of the comment above is pretty erratic to me.
Will there be non-JWs in the New World? Of course there will!! Probably billions if we are to believe what the Bible says about the resurrection. Will they stay non-JWs once they are resurrected? Of course not. Psalm 150:6  "Every breathing thing - let it praise Jah. Praise Jah!"
However, will non-JWs survive Armageddon? Well, I haven't seen a clear statement on that, even in the small print, so having personally understood at least the basics of Jesus' warnings about the coming end of this system of things, I'm not going to take any chances on that one for my self anyway.
Why the shock over using non-JW sources for pictures, music, clips? Surprise maybe I would expect if it's a new approach (although the literature has been using stock images for years). I can't see any problem with it at all as long as copyright is respected.
Let's be honest, one of the basic tools of communication we use which is verbal language, is borrowed, stolen, inherited, absorbed, and no one blinks at all except brand owners or strap-line originators. (Lyric theft is a whole separate subject). No one serving Jehovah complains that language with all it's idiom, metaphor etc. has "worldly" origin as long as it is used within the parameters laid out in scripture.
 As for diaphanous garb? Well, for those like me with 20/20 vision or less surely it's a bit of a stretch, although imagination is well-known for playing tricks with what people think they actually see. (Thanks @Jay Witnesses for sourcing out these bits and pieces however. Most interesting).
Depictions of paradise will always reflect the cultural background and tastes of the creators. Some may view certain elements as a bit "cheesy", others as lacking "diversity". Then there are those who ask all sorts of technical questions based on small details, forgetting that these are just imaginative suggestions. However, we have come on leaps and bounds from some of the earlier attempts I remember. (e.g the first one I saw is below).
Lets not forget the basic message in these paradise illustrations regardless of the media, that "soon, all earth's woes will be past!" (I'm sure that phrase is borrowed from somewhere!...)

Eoin,
My mistake. Yes. Trying to work too much from an old man's memory these days.

More a case of demons agreeing with the truth: Matt 8:29
 
I have, and there are sufficient numbers of folk like your self arguing for and against trinitarian "church father" beliefs. Reminds me of Paul's experience at Acts 23:7. I will leave it to you people to fight it out. Let me know if anyone wins.
 
Man. We are on different planets!! I will stick with Joel on this one.

This is pretty much the same acknowledgement made on the jw.org site:
"However, the Bible does not describe the instrument of Jesus’ death, so no one can know its shape with absolute certainty."  -- https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/did-jesus-die-on-cross/#insight[search_id]=457bee18-d809-4c69-8899-6c88cc0e738e&insight[search_result_index]=0
That was excellent research that Ann pointed to. Not so sure about how the presentation would convince anyone. Have never heard anyone tell me that Jesus must have died on the cross and one of the proofs is that the Watchtower used to believe it and has pictures of it. ????

Probably because "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows" Matt.24:36.

Agree with this. We don't even know them in the majority of cases although the media influence makes us think we do. Look at all the grief over the death of a celebrity when every death is a tragedy!
Media portrayal is just a myth at best.

I am responding to this one as I have been quoted, but only for this one posting.
It is a reasonable question, but, like beards or not for male Jehovah's Witnesses, seems to trigger endless debate.
Routine choice of clothing of those outside of the Jehovah's Witness community is not the final arbiter of their dress code for formal activities.
Whilst the scriptures provide guidance, for example at 1Tim. 2:9-10, the practical application of this guidance to a dress code for formal activity in modern times is influenced more strongly by what is felt acceptable overall by the Witness community than by popular culture. Most Witnesses are happy to go along with the standard encouraged by those taking the lead in that formal activity. Of course in determining that standard, some consideration is given to the cultural setting, particularly in what would be generally expected by the public as a form of dress appropriate to the work that Jehovah's Witnesses do, and the life-style that they promote. 
That given, there may well be numerous styles of dress and forms of clothing that no longer generate the controversy or even offence they have done in previous years.These changes in style may well be reflected quite acceptably in the informal attire of Jehovah's Witnesses where there is no violation of Christian standards of modesty.
The dress code adopted by Jehovah's Witnesses for formal activity does not violate standards of modesty either inside or outside of the congregation, and leaves plenty of room for the expression of personal taste. It seems to be adequately fit for purpose at present, and allows for focus on more important matters as advised by the apostle Paul: Ph.1:9-11.

When it quotes from Joel 2:32:"Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved." 
at Acts 2:21: "And everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved"
and Rom 10:13: "For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”"