Witness

Russell said, Beware of "organization." It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours."   Wt. 9/15/1895 pg 216

Rutherford:  “Religion is a snare and a racket”  1939
Wt 1953 3/1  p. 143 “Ask yourself now, Did Christ Jesus, who set our example and told us to follow his example to gain life, join any church organization in his day? No, God does not require us to do that; but he requires us to worship him... We have the Bible to show us the right way. Certainly it is not necessary for a person to become a member of a church to gain everlasting life."
"Jehovah’s visible organization can use you, but can get along without you too. But you cannot get along without it. Fruitless ones are eventually pruned off and never missed as new ones are grafted in. Pruned-off branches soon wither and die, being cut off from the circulating, life-giving sap." Watchtower 1950 Jan 15 p.26
"Come to Jehovah's organization for salvation" - Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.212
WHO IS RIGHT? WHICH WATCHTOWER LEADER IS SHOWING COMMON SENSE?
Beasts need to eat; symbolic “Beasts” suck the life blood out of those who follow their hypocritical teachings.  Rev chapter 13.  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Since you mention it, I don’t start my morning with Cheerios, but with God’s Word.  Seriously. 
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.”  Isa 55:1,2
 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”  John 6:35
He also said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”  Luke 12:1 
With “leaven”, the GB is telling you that the organization’s need for money comes directly from scripture. 
"Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matt 16:12
 
I am only beginning to know the Bible, better than I had in the past.    Rev 3:20; 19:9
 

In your use of sarcasm, you actually speak truth.
“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”  Acts 17:24,25
 
Weigh these scriptures against the broadcast which calls an assembly hall, “Jehovah’s house”.   Blasphemy. 

Watchtower is determined to get blood out of a turnip.
http://dailypost.ng/2016/09/05/nigeria-one-poorest-countries-world-80m-living-poverty-line-un-report/

At least in that case, everyone could recognize it for what it is, a puppet show.  And who is pulling the strings?
I am sure you will take my words with a grain of salt, but I offer them to any who care to read.
Two ‘generations’ have been in existence since the beginning; two “seeds” becoming apparent since Adam; a righteous as well as a wicked generation.  Gen 3:15 
There are two fathers generating “seeds”. 
Satan – Deut 32:5; Acts 2:40; Matt 12:39,
with his spirit within them - Eph 2:2; 1 John 3:12; Rev 16:13; 1 Tim 4:1
"You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:44
God, the Father to the righteous – Ps 112:2,
with God’s spirit within their heart. 1 Pet 1:23; John 1:13; 1 John 5:18; Matt 10:20; Gal 3:29
“so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”  Phil 2:15
Both are present until Christ returns.  Prophesy concerns both seeds that have generated/regenerated over the centuries, and will not “pass away” until prophesy (God’s word through Jesus and all the prophets) concerning them, is fulfilled.  Matt 24:35; 5:18
“Righteousness” dwells in one’s heart – the ‘new heavens and new earth’ where righteousness dwells concerns the anointed who have been sealed ‘in the heavens’.  2 Pet 3:10-13; Eph 2:6; Heb 12:22,23; Phil 3:20
Since the GB disregards the true spiritual meaning of “this generation”; the day will come upon them “as a thief”.  They teach physical manifestations as the “sign of the Son of Man”, led along by the father of the lie. 
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” 1 Cor 2:12-14
Their record of consistent failure and readjustments shows what dwells in their heart; it certainly is not any understanding from Christ.  They are a part of the prophesy warning of such ones, that Jesus said would be fulfilled. Luke 21:8; 2 Thess 2:1,2; Rev 3:3; 16:15; Matt 24:43; Luke 12:42,45,46; 2 Thess 2:9,10; Rev 13:13,14
 
 
 

What sort of face does deception wear?  One that you will easily recognized?  Perhaps you should go over the Watchtower stock portfolio to get a clearer picture of where the donations are going. 
Right.  That is the determining factor of truth, what we visibly see sitting in Satan's world.  
You do realize that the GB flies business class?    I wonder how Jesus would have traveled today, who had nowhere to lay his head.  
 

I don't know about you, but I LIKE flying Business Class .... it makes flying First Class like being in a cardboard box.
I only flew business class one time, from North Carolina to Norway, and the ticket was $9,450 ... and worth every cent!
What made it even BETTER is that ten thousand children and more had to sell their pet chickens, and do without ice cream cones to pay for it!
 Oh wait ....  that was for the GB's Business class ticket.
... never mind.

For clarification's sake, I am not saying Christ did not die for all men.  The Kingdom of God is open to anyone who choose to follow Christ and heed his teachings; but the establishment/administration of this Kingdom involves the anointed priesthood, who must be found with "no deceit", pure and blameless, in order to join their brethren who are God's Temple.  Rev 14:5; Phil 1:2; 1 Cor 3:16,17
 
"For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,  while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,  and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:12-15

Give me a break, seriously? Why is there even a requirement for $$$ per person in a cong?
Why make videos showing little kids giving up their ice cream money to the org?
Why come out with video after video instructing the jws on how to give money. Why the continual selling off of real estate for millions, but yet still take from the congs by selling THIER k-halls?
Why make a mandate that pays off a loan for a kh but still demands the same payment indefinitely? 
This is above and beyond what any group or church does that is not part of a money making scheme. 
Do you think God needs money? I suspect you don't, so who is it that needs your money? That is the basis of this whole topic. I understand you do not want to look at a bigger picture, its ok. The bigger picture will present itself soon enough. The pieces are there, the documentation is out, the gig is up, but there are always diehards who still believe the emperor has the finest clothes around. 

Once a man tastes well-being and wealth, he does not want to lose it.
He will do everything to keep status and position.
And he will do that In the name of .... in the name of anything and everything.

TTH:
Your reading comprehension skills are at their usual nonexistent level, TTH. clouded by a fantasy agenda.
The Kingdom Hall I grew up in had Brothers that stole from the contribution box ( they said they were going to pay it back ...) and had two Elders who later ... much later ... were found out after they faded out to be screaming homosexuals.  One was seen in a "Gay Pride" parade by my sister, and the other contacted me when I mentioned him by name in an internet posting, and he contacted me, wanting to know where the first ex-elder was these days. 
And if you know JW History, you know that there were two members of the Governing Body that were removed for homosexuality, and even today, the upper echelons of the Organization is riddled with spies, covert apostates and "hangers on", which leak every manner of confidential document to the Internet.
Often INFO is available globally faster to ANYBODY on the Internet, than Elders can get copies in the mail.
(By the way, in my opinion, this leakage is a GOOD thing ... as Organizational change is ONLY done by outside forces MAKING the changes happen ... the crime is that in the Truth, there is NO SUCH THING as fiscal or spiritual transparency).
We should not have to "steal" information that common decency and a clean conscience, and  basic fiduciary responsibility says we are ENTITLED to have, out of respect, and common sense. 
It stuns me but not surprises me that you are comfortable with anonymous men in the upper echelons, handling perhaps 60 million dollars a month, and having total faith that NOBODY is skimming.  
All it takes is the checkers to be in cahoots with the counters, and MILLIONS of dollars a month could be skimmed off ... and nobody but NOBODY would be the wiser, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A SECRET....  to those lower on the totem pole.
The "higher ups" have to believe what their minions tell them, and those lower on the chain of command have no access to the information, and are NOT told.
Secrecy breeds tyranny and corruption in ALL religious organizations.
This has ALWAYS been the case.
Oh, and TTH .....
GROW UP!
.
 

What do you call a "recommended amount the average publisher needs to contribute" if not a beg and petition?  Oh wait, I think I get it now. It is not a beg or petition, but rather a demand and requirement, an additional law given to the people.

Let me explain my picture, @Queen Esther and @Eaton
It is easy to quote scripture, "I am Jehovah and there is no one else"; but it is difficult to believe as a JW.  Why?  We cannot serve two masters.  Matt 6:24
The organization/jw .org IS another entity JWs hold in high esteem.  God is continually connected to the organization.
"Jehovah AND his organization"
"Jehovah WITH his organization"
"Jehovah's organization" is a refuge, a safe haven, a "spiritual paradise", and salvation!
Can anything take the place of God and Christ?
He is specifically saying above, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE.  He is our only rock; yet the picture I placed above shows a rock of high value with a logo that is touted as truth...and holding great power.  Does it replace our only God in the hearts and minds of JWs?  Does it replace Christ?
"Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will you attack a man?
You shall be slain, all of you,
Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position;
They delight in lies;
They bless with their mouth,
But they curse inwardly. Selah
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed on the scales,
They are altogether lighter than vapor.
10 Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work." Ps 62

 
 

All sorts of hedge funds, money and stock funds. Trust entities. Building, buying and selling real estates. That all produce money for spending.
Money from members, from kid who "sold chicken" and gave half money to society or from kid who change her mind and not going to "ice-cream after Sunday morning KH meeting" :((((.
Choose whatever source. All come to Money Department where managers and bookkeeping stuff take orders from "above" and share and spend somebody else's money.
Nothing is free in "Spiritual Paradise", not even a free of charge magazine. You pay all that. With money, with emotions, with intellect, with freedom, with soul, with psyche, with free labour. With life. 

If there is "no one else", then who is this?
 
 
 

If there is "no one else", then who is this?
 
 
 

Hi! All of you who are or have been member of JW church for longer period are  very well aware of fact that every explanation on "the generation" issue through long decades that passed, was been "logic" and supported with "logical reasoning", "reasonable explanation", and in some of them, as in this last one, WT GB told people that "Jesus referred", "Jesus was thought". So by such sort of claiming in using Jesus authority, as GB often doing using JHVH name too, when want to strengthen, to boost, to support own idea,  ordinary, uninspired, imperfect and error human, earthly ideas and theories from WT "bible scholars" - nothing good can come from that. Only another seduction and deception.        

Regarding earthly riches Jesus taught just the opposite of what the Watchtower practices. 
He carried a money bag to give to the poor.  He turned over the money tables on the temple steps, shouting, “stop turning my father’s house into a marketplace!”  John 2:16
He said, “sell your belongings and give to the poor”.  As the Wt. sells KHs, do they “give back” to those in need?  Or…do they invest in more shady stocks, like those in the the link I provided?  The GB reside in comfort, their physical needs are met.  Why are they any more worthy than anyone else, to receive physical comfort?  Jesus, who had nowhere to lay his head, said “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  Luke 18:25 
The leaders will tell you with apparent sincerity that the example of Jesus is what you, as a sheep should display.  So, you give to what you think is the true need – the organization.   Along with you, are thousands digging into their pockets and who will not be eating three meals a day as the GB does, or sleeping in plush surroundings as the GB does.  These poor ones will save from their want to serve the needs of the organization. 
The Wt leaders are to be walking in Jesus’ footsteps, even to the point of denying oneself. Matt 16:24   Clearly, they have left that path and desire all that the world’s riches can provide them; including power and prestige.   Didn’t Jesus say to love one’s neighbor as yourself?  By doing so, wouldn’t the needs of the other person become paramount?
“Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  Luke 6:38
The flock is fleeced not only monetarily, but spiritually.  Rev 3:17,18
 

There's a recent Watchtower study edition on this very topic.  “The Generous Person Will Be Blessed”  11/2017, pp. 18,19
Quote:  "We can be assured that “the generous person will be blessed.” Moreover, when we give our valuable things (monetary valuables, of course) to Jehovah, we honor him.—Prov. 3:9;22:9."
Not according to Jesus, or his apostles.
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  Matt 19:21
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."  Matt 6:24
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Tim 6:10
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."  1 Tim 6:17-19
Obviously, the GB has it all wrong.  
"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.This too is meaningless."  Eccl 5:10
 

It's a crying SHAME when civil governments have the moral High Ground.

After carefully examining BOTH photos .. both are in color, as the carpet behind the black and white leaflet is in color ... one does not appear to me to be a counterfeit of the other.
If you went to the grocery store and got your change in Monopoly Money, you could not make the case that it was  a counterfeit of REAL national currency, either ... unless of course you thought Monopoly Money was REAL money, which would only mean you need to get out more.
There is a magazine in Germany called STERN, which in August 1991, had  a stunningly beautiful photo of a model named Petite Pascale, who had also posed for PLAYBOY MAGAZINE sometime before that, on the cover .
When the WTB&TS stole this picture from the cover of STERN magazine, and put it on page 93 of their book "You Can Live Forever On A Paradise Earth", that was not a counterfeit ... either.
It was plagerism.
It was theft.
It was incredibly clueless and STUPID ... but it was NOT "counterfeiting"
If you had a USA One Dollar Bill with a picture of ex-president's wife Barbara Bush ... instead of George Washington ...
THAT would be counterfeiting.
 
 

Still going forward?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/01/10/watch-the-pentagons-new-hive-mind-controlled-drone-swarm-in-action/?utm_term=.0c802910c121
 

I think this was mentioned somewhere in Revelation .....

How do you think it made the friends in Russia feel when they knew every one of their 8 MILLION or so friends outside of Russia sent an average of five letters each, and sent perhaps 100 million heartfelt prayers to Jehovah for the Russian courts to allow religious freedom for them in Russia, and NONE of it was effective?
How do you think it made the friends in Russia feel if they knew every one of their 8 MILLION or so friends outside of Russia sent 56 MILLION DOLLARS  to the Russian Government, and that their mail was NOT delivered, or even read, but sits somewhere on a railroad siding in Russia to be burned as fuel for Russian furnaces this winter, or taken to a landfill somewhere and thrown away?
How do you think it made the friends in Russia feel when they realized that their earnest and heartfelt prayers and the prayers of 8 million or so Jehovah's Witnesses for their religious freedom in Russia was NOT ANSWERED?
Spin THAT one!

I thought that the wt did't ask for money? Or is it literally about a plate being passed? 
I noticed that in the past few years, lots and lots of property has been sold in Brooklyn and surrounding areas as well as some kh's. Why this sudden grab for money? In addition to this, we can see in the screen shot above that credit cards are now an option? Really? Whatever happend to what Russell said way back when? Here is a quote from next weeks wt study that quotes yesteryear: 
 
chapter 18 of "God's Kingdom Rules."
 
“It Will Never Beg nor Petition Men for Support”
7 Brother Russell and his associates refused to imitate the money-raising schemes so common in the churches of Christendom.  In the second issue of the Watch Tower, under the heading “Do You Want ‘Zion’s Watch Tower’?” Russell stated: “‘Zion’s Watch Tower’ has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He.........fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication.” Over 130 years later, The Watchtower and the organization that publishes it are still going strong! 
8 Jehovah’s people do not beg for money. They do not pass collection plates or send out letters of solicitation. 
 
This also reminds me of the relatively recent change in mortgages on hk's. No longer are there mortgages on some property's (kh's), they were paid off by the wt, but they are still required to continue to pay the same amount as they did before, but now pay it to the wt for an indefinite amount of time. Where do they get these funds to pay the "fake" mortgages? regular donations from the locals. 
 
Lastly, what is the rewards program listed in the screen shot above?