P.I.M.O. (2020)

TWO YEARS AFTER LEAVING THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES >>>

WATCH VIDEO HERE.

(September 2023)

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 From the Journals of Miguel Angel Torres, edited by James Coburn:

El Jameco / P.I.M.O. Here

• My belief in the existence of God is very firm. It is primarily based on faith, but also on logical arguments. Namely First Cause and Supreme Observer. He is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is a hearer of prayer. We are saved by His Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ.

  Jehovah Witnesses correctly point out that beyond Faith; works are necessary to demonstrate the said Faith and are as necessary for salvation. (James 2:22; James 2:17) I do not believe that God’s name is “Jehovah”, I am rather partial to the Yahweh consensus. Jesus never used the word “Jehovah” because the word is an English word coined in the middle ages. The word did not exist in the Palestine of Jesus’ time. However, I understand that as a Baptized Jehovah Witness I am required to use the name “Jehovah” in context of field service, congregational activities and public prayer. In private I pray to Yahweh in the name of Jesus Christ.

• In general I agree with Jehovah Witness Christology. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but not God Himself. He is the Messiah, a perfect man who never sinned. I agree that The Father is Greater than The Son (John 14:28). I believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected and is alive in heaven.

• I believe that The Bible is indispensable to obtain knowledge of God, knowledge of prophesy and to formulate normative standards for Christian living. However, the Bible is not a Science or History text. On matters of Science and History I tend to defer to the scientific consensus (selectively, on a case by case basis). The Bible can be inspired if one wants it to be (as is the case with the Koran or the Book of Mormon). That said, I am required as a baptized Jehovah Witness to uphold the NWT Bible as the “inerrant, inspired word of God”. I will do so publicly in context of field service and congregational activities while keeping my personal views on the matter private.

• I do not believe that Adam and Eve existed (because the scientific evidence supporting this conclusion is overwhelming), consequently I do not believe in original sin. I support the position of Pelagius that we were made in the image of God, originally perfect and not inherently evil. That we are free to choose to sin or not to sin. That choosing to sin carries consequences. That Christians are ethically compelled to choose to not sin. That Jesus Christ was not executed to serve as “ransom sacrifice”, but that rather He was executed because He challenged the religious and political establishment of His time. That said, I understand that as a baptized Jehovah Witness I am required, in context of Field Service and congregational activities, to promote the theologies of “original sin” and the “ransom sacrifice” and that this implies that I must promote agreement with the premise that Adam and Eve existed. I keep my personal views on the subject private.

• I do not believe that the Noachian Flood happened. I do not believe that Noah existed. This because the scientific evidence supporting this conclusion is overwhelming. I am aware that Jesus mentioned Noah during one of his sermons and that this is taken as evidence Noah existed, but it is possible that Jesus only did so in order to quote a popular story to make a point.

  That said, I understand that as a baptized Jehovah Witness I must defend the position that the Flood happened and that Noah existed.

• I do not believe in the existence of the prophet Daniel. I do not believe that “Daniel” wrote the Book of Daniel. I am inclined to agree with the consensus of Biblical scholars who conclude that the Book of Daniel was progressively written by a group of authors and scribes over a span of several years. Many of the prophesies on the Book Daniel were written after the fact. I am aware that Jesus mentioned Daniel the Prophet in one of His sermons; but again, He might have referred to a character in a popular story in order to make a point. That said, I understand that as a baptized Jehovah Witness I am required to affirm both the historical existence of Daniel and attribute to him authorship of the Book of Daniel. I am also required to consider prophetic statements in the book of Daniel to be accurate predictions of future events. I keep my views on the subject private.

• On the issue of Creationism versus Evolution I take a compromise position. I am inclined to agree with theologians who believe it is possible to harmonize the Genesis creation narrative with scientific fact. I subscribe to the notion that God created the evolutionary process as an instrument, that He influenced the evolutionary process in order to facilitate the emergence of humanity. I understand that my position is anathema to the fundamentalist Biblical creationism of the Jehovah Witnesses. While as a baptized member of Jehovah Witnesses, I am required to defend the premises of creationism in context of field service and congregational activity, I keep my personal views on the subject private.

• On the issue of 607 B.C.E. I agree with the Jehovah Witnesses. The consensus among Christian theologians (including Jehovah Witnesses), based on the Bible, is that there was an exile of 70 years in Babylon. (2 Chronicles 36:20,21; Jeremiah 29:10, 11,13). There is a consensus among secular historians and Christian theologians that the Jewish exile ended in 537 B.C.E. Counting back from that year would place Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E. I base my agreement with this position on the basis of adherence to the Christian consensus that the exile lasted 70 years.

Over the past year since baptism I have become quite active with Jehovah Witnesses. I attend meetings three times a week. The Swedish congregation midweek and Sunday meetings and the English group meeting on Saturdays. I participate in field service four times a week. In the Swedish service Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on the English service on Sunday afternoons. In addition I have daily Bible study and preparation for meetings. While in field service and in context of congregational activities (such as commenting) I adhere to and promote the official theological and policy positions of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Whenever my personal views differ from official Jehovah Witness teachings I keep my views private. 

To read a 15 point article detailing the offical beliefs of Jehovah Witnesses click HERE. These are the theological positions that I promote in context of Field Service and Congregational activities. 

Bible Videos​—Essential Teachings (from JW.org)

September 22, 2020

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Ref.

YouTube>>> Jehovah's Witnesses are right about 607 BCE.

When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?—Part One

When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?—Part Two

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Beliefs on International Bible Students:

To view I.B.S. website click HERE. 

The International Bible Student's beliefs remain unchanged since the days of Brother Russell. We continue to treasure the Studies in the Scriptures, early Watchtowers and other writings of Brother Russell. We continue to believe the following:

• Both the Old and New Testament are Jehovah's inspired words; the primary source of all Truth.
• Man did not evolve but was created.
• Jehovah created his only-begotten Son, Jesus. Jesus created all other things.
• Jesus descended from heaven to earth and was born of Mary as a perfect human man, not as God in flesh.
• God raised Jesus from death in a Spirit body, not in a physical body of flesh.
• The Holy Spirit is Jehovah's active power and force, not a person.
• The Trinity is no where found or taught in the Bible.
• Man is mortal and does not possess an immortal soul. The soul ceases to exist after death.
• There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished. "Hell" is from the same Greek and Hebrew words for "grave," describing the sleep of death, not eternal torment.
• We are now living in the "time of the end".
• Jesus returned and has been invisibly present on earth since the early days of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
• The 144,000 of Revelation 7 are the anointed Bride of Christ in heaven.
• Earth will never be literally destroyed or completely depopulated.
• In the Kingdom, Christ will rule the earth in righteousness and peace.
• By their faithfulness to God, the obedient of mankind will be granted what our original parents lost-everlasting life in human perfection on a paradise earth.

Ref.

International Bible Students message to JWs >>> CLICK HERE