Combination

Read both sides of the matter presented. Both Pro and Con. Then sift it thru and you should discern the general truth of the matter.

I imagine, most every strange new ruling that gets made was in reaction to something that happened, somewhere. And the only people that know all the reasons they made the new ruling are the guys in the star chamber of rulership.

1 John 3 v 1 doesnt appear to say a whole lot.

1 Peter 1 v 6-8 "Great rejoicing ...unspeakable and glorified joy." One therefore wonders if there might have been laughter. 1 Corinthians 12 v 8-10 The signs listed there cannot be passive signs. Tongues, discernment of tongues, healing. Certainly these things must have been evidenced in their meetings. Acts 9. Paul is felled to the ground under spirit. He was blinded 3 days. So these are the kinds of scriptures that will be quoted in support of the manifestations.

Acts 2 v 42-47. Describes great rejoicing, great fear, grear sincerity, certainly it was no dull meeting with everyone sat there passively while a public speaker lectured them. Acts 4 v 29-31. Shaking. Bold speaking. Healing. Being filled with holy spirit. How could it be known they were filled with spirit unless there was some manifestation? Acts 5 v 12. Signs and portents. Acts 6 v 8. Great signs. Great portents. Certainly there must have been some visible evidence that some great power was at work, else how could anyone know anything was happening? Acts 2 v 12-17. This passage indicates that those Under the spiruits influence had an appearance as though they were drunk. Peters explains that, though they appear drunk, they are under the influence of spirit.

The Howard Browne "laughter" movement mass meetings were orchestrated. Planted, cooperative firestarters were strategically placed in the audience to get the laughter started. (Observed in RL at Howard Browne conventions)

http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/jonestown.html Heres a great Radio special on the subject of Jonestown

So you just werent spiritual enough to be able to hold onto the power and make it work for you!? Maybe there were unresolved issues you had that weakened your resolve (belief ability). I want to hear about this. How did that Fear and Intimidation thing occur in your experiences?

Nothing new in any of that I suppose. Most of them are plagiarists (to use a term) pinching bits and pieces from all over the place and tacking it together.

Yes. This good news shall be preached in ALL the Earth for a witness to ALL Nations. An end times prophecy that has not been fulfilled until Jehovah found an earthly organization suitable for carrying out that momentous worldwide work. Which organization He found in 1919. (Thats the theory)

Star. I think a thread discussing the validity of the JW key doctrine belief that they are the only church fullfilling Matthew 24v14, and therefore are Gods Organization on earth, is in order. See what scriptural arguements the Way people have to either agree or disagree with that belief. They know their scripture you must admit!

Star, I didnt say the JWs were growing smaller, I said the World Empire of False Religion. Babylon. The JWs indeed grow. But not as fast as the Mormons of the general Pentecost movement. So if organizational growth is an indicator of divine blessing and approval (Which for your church leadership, it is) then those two movements are more blessed than the JWs arent they. JWs being as obsessed as they are with Organizational expansion and numerical increase.

Star cant pull out scriptural reasonings to back her position, because basically there are none. Just a couple single scriptures from Acts cut out of context. Someone suggested that, once seriously challenged, she is robotic with her responses and has no power of reasoning and counterarguement, Well, be not TOO harsh upon her, she can only do that she has been trained to do. I think the refutations, and scriptural counterpoints posted in this thread have clearly defeated the view that God bans blood transfussions.

The JWs oft Quote Acts 15 v 20, a Bible book asddressed to the Church rather than the Israelites, which scripture tells us to avoid things polluted by idols, fornication, things strangled, and blood. The JWs, thinking fornication a major sin therefore conclude that the matter of blood abstinance is of similar import, considering it is mentioned in the same scripture. Acts 15 v 29 repeats the same admonishments, abstainance from things sacrificed to idols, fornication, blood and things strangled. Any other scriptures listed by them are Old Testament and pertain to Mosaic Law and the pouring out and draining of blood before eating meat. Clearly, as well, both scriptures in Acts, mentioning things "strangled" are referring to the same thing. The removal of blood from meat. There is no scripture, of course, which mentions the transfussion of blood, or those fractions in blood which are acceptable to God, or not acceptable. Those revelations the Watchtower leaders have therefore received pertaining to refusing blood transfussion must be that, a revelation from God instructing them that when the writer of acts said "abstain from blood" he meant not to accept blood transfussions. This is indeed true. WT articles pertaining to that matter suggest that anyone who accepts a heart transplant will take on the personality traits of the donor.

In JW speak, the world empire of False Religion "fell" in 1918 and has been shrinking ever since. Which of course doesnt explain the expansion of Mormonism or especially Pentecostalism since that date. And the foretold destruction of False Religion at the hands of the United Nations is.....well....nowhere in sight.

The former rain fell at Pentecost I would suggest, and the latter at the second coming or immediately prior thereto.

Same here.

The JWs sure do make a whole lot out of a couple of scriptures from the Bible. Making the blood doctrine into an identifying truth /practise of the "true" end time church. God Loves you too Dear Brother Roy, whose words are always an encouragement to all who read them.