About FutureMan Expertise I will do my best to answer all Bible based Questions as well as some of the questions relating to the world that we live in. All answers will be based on intensive research of the scriptures. Also I will refer to other written commentaries of ones I feel present a good argument towards proving bible truths.
Some who view my published answers have wondered what my "PURPOSE" is or my "REASON" is for being an expert in this section relating to Jehovah's Witnesses.
This is one way for me to express my faith in God's word and his purposes.
Another way I do this is on forums where God's word is discussed mainly by those who are or were involved with Jehovah's Witnesses.
As I'm no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses who would be involved in the door to door work, this is one of the ways where I can have an active faith.
There are many lost sheep out there who are looking for encouragement and searching for the truth.
Many have Left or drifted away or were disfellowshiped, from the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.
And some were disfellowshiped for the same reason that I was.
And yes many of the disfellowshiped are still sheep in Jehovah God's eyes.
I do not claim myself to have an accurate knowledge of truth as yet as I'm continually studying and searching the scriptures so as to gain a more accurate knowledge of Bible truths.
Also every time someone asks me a question, it helps me to get more truth, because inevitably I do more study of God's word to answer these questions.
Experience I have been a student of the bible now for over 30 years. As well as being associated with Jehovah's witnesses for this length of time. To avoid confusion, yes I am a baptized Christian who was baptized by Jehovah's witnesses over 30 years ago under the old baptismal vows and not the ones from 1985 onwards. But I have been excommunicated just recently, for as I understand for not accepting that the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" have being appointed over all of Christ's belongings as yet. This is due to the fact that I do not believe that Jesus has come to inspect his household as yet.
My strong desire is for the Truth to be made manifest and to this end I keep on searching the scriptures to enhance my existing Bible knowledge and to learn new truths.
My fear is that there are unseen forces behind the scene of this world that is desperately trying to obscure the real truth of the Bible.
Also there is a lot of information which is being presented to us from all types of media. Whether it be written, Audio, or visual media.
The influence in our media to influence us in a certain way is very strong. As a result the people of this world are slowly be programmed to a certain way of thinking and also corrupted from moral values and principles as outlined in God's Word the Bible.
Education/Credentials Experience with computer related research on the Internet. Have done a lot of intensive research into global affairs, Scientific research, Unexplained phenomena, also various religions as to what they believe.
Question QUESTION: At 1st john4:1 were told to test the inspired expression,I'm leary of doing this because of the consequences that could follow.why are the scriptures at 2nd john9-11applied to ones who were df'd for a fleshly weakness? In verse7 it's talking about the deciever and anti-christ.At 1st john 2;22,also the antichrist.It seems to me the scripture at 2nd John 9-11 is taken out of context and misapplied.Thank you for your thoughts
ANSWER: Hello Melva, you are concerned about what the scripture in (1 John 4:1) means for us Christians today.
Well here is what it states in the following few verses.
(1 John 4:2-6) 2 "YOU gain the knowledge of the inspired expression from God by this: Every inspired expression that confesses Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God, 3 but every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s [inspired expression] which YOU have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 YOU originate with God, little children, and YOU have conquered those [persons], because he that is in union with YOU is greater than he that is in union with the world. 5 They originate with the world; that is why they speak [what proceeds] from the world and the world listens to them. 6 We originate with God. He that gains the knowledge of God listens to us; he that does not originate with God does not listen to us. This is how we take note of the inspired expression of truth and the inspired expression of error." NWT
So you see Melva that we need to test every perceived inspired expression that is said to come from God.
Yes we need to check what they say and when I say they, I'm talking about those who would call themselves teachers among the Christian community. We need to check what they say with God's inspired word the Bible to make sure that what these ones say, really is inspired of God, as the apostle here had stated that many false prophets had gone into the world.
Also in (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) it states this in verse 20 “‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’ NWT
Also Jesus stated in 24:23-26 that there would be many misleading false prophets Just before he comes with his Kingdom and to judge the world.
So we all need to be on our guard in this case.
I do believe Melva that many in the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses misapply this scripture because the criteria to test whether an inspired utterance originates with God, is that it confesses that Christ did really come down to the earth in the flesh as a human, and that he was from God as outlined in the Bible.
Also it coincides with the scripture in John 17:3 which states in verse 3 "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. 4 I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do. 5 So now you, Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was." NWT
This of course would include his sacrifice in behalf of all mankind.
Anyone who would deny the Christ would be denying the ransom sacrifice.
This would put them in opposition to Christ and his Father.
Anyone who would be teaching otherwise as to what the Apostles teaches about Christ as mentioned in the Gospels in the New Testament, would be part of the Anti-Christ as Bible states.
My regards to you Melva, from FutureMan.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your answer.Deut 18:22 makes much sense.so 2nd John 9-11 would apply to apostates not one that was df'd for fornication? Also, where is the scriptural principle for 3 brothers on a judicial committee? thank you in advance.
Answer Hello again Melva, you said, "so 2nd John 9-11 would apply to apostates not one that was df'd for fornication? Also, where is the scriptural principle for 3 brothers on a judicial committee? thank you in advance."
Well yes you are correct it is applying to those who run ahead of what God's inspired word actually says and apostates who teach contrary to what Jesus and the apostles taught in the gospels.
And to your next question, there is actually no scripture supporting that a judicial committee should be only three, the Bible does not specifically state that there should only be three older men sitting on a judicial committee. Only that it is logical to assume that there would two or more for it to be fair.
Here is the scripture that applies here. (Matthew 18:15-17)
(Matthew 18:15-20) . . .Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to YOU men, Whatever things YOU may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things YOU may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven. 19 Again I truly say to YOU, If two of YOU on earth agree concerning anything of importance that they should request, it will take place for them due to my Father in heaven. 20 For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” NWT
So here it indicates the need to take more than one witness along to testify to a person's wrongdoing, so also the principle of two or more to hear what a person has to say for himself to the older men who represent the mature men of the congregation, would be reasonable.
But it is also logical to have more than two sitting on a judicial committee so as a decision could be reached without it being drawn out for a long time.
Three is an odd number so one person would always add to the vote one way or other as to whether a person is guilty or not or what is to be done about the person committing the wrong.
Also as Jesus stated his spirit would be on two or more gathered in his name.
The other scripture here that shows that the older men of the congregation are involved in judging wrongdoing is this one in (James 5:14-16) . . .Is there anyone sick among YOU? Let him call the older men of the congregation to [him], and let them pray over him, greasing [him] with oil in the name of Jehovah. 15 And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore openly confess YOUR sins to one another and pray for one another, that YOU may get healed. A righteous man’s supplication, when it is at work, has much force. NWT
So in conclusion Melva there is actually no scripture evidence as far as I can discern anyhow, to say that only three should sit on a judicial committee.
In fact the scriptures seems to indicate that the whole congregation might have being sitting in on the evidence given and the judgment of a person who had committed the wrongdoing.
But it might have being the older men of the congregation who took a vote and made the final decision.
I hope this helps to answer your question Melva, at least from my perspective anyway.
