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Meeting Cancellation

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Hello!

I am writing this as I'm on the mend from a temperature spike to 102.5 degrees.  I'm back down to my normal low 97 degree range.  That being said, I proactively cancelled the meeting with the elder and the custodian's husband.  Although I'm on the mend, there are those in the house who are now getting what I had after it was passed to me.  Out of sheer respect for them and their health (I wouldn't wish this on anyone), I sent them a message that tomorrow (March 4) must be postponed.  With that being said, I'd like to give you an update as to what I've been doing even though I kind of teased things out a few weeks back.  

 

For the past few months, I've been working on a compilation focused on one word that is frequently used by the organization, "Armageddon."  If you are a Witness you may be aware of the numerous prophetic statements made by the organization throughout its history.  I took a look at it with this post.  With this post in mind, I wanted to do something that to my knowledge has NEVER been done before, compile every single quote dealing with the word Armageddon, looking at things from the days of Pastor Charles Taze Russell to the present day Governing Body.  

 

My progress as it stands is I'm currently in The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom June 1, 1940.  I'm currently sitting at just over 300 pages.  Once I get through the Watchtower, I will progress to The Golden Age, Consolation, Awake!, and take care of all books, booklets, and brochures.  My guess is there will be in excess of well over 1,000 pages.  One of the great aids that I will have is this page on avoidjw.org.  This is a great "go to" place for the "light" which the organization either considers old or has made the effort to extinguish yet lives on thanks to the internet.  

 

The goal, once this is completely done will releasing every quote by year on a weekly basis.  This will allow the organization's fascination with this word to live "again" thanks to the internet.  So the question is why "Armageddon?"  My personal feeling is by having the end "just around the corner" the average rank and file Witness will be spurred on to knock on one more door.  As such this image is what comes to mind:

 

 

The Society is obviously the holding the carrot and the average Jehovah's Witness is the horse in this case.  This is done to spur on productivity since Armageddon is "soon."  This keeps productivity high yet the results are low.  To demonstrate this, go to the organization's website and download the 2017 Yearbook.  Go to page 177 for the "2016 Grand Totals."  Let's look at some math for baptisms:

1,983,763,754=Total Hours Spent in Field

264,535=Total Number Baptized

7,499 Hours per baptism or 312 days of preaching per baptism

 

Take a few moments and compare the hours timeframe to that under "Christian Baptism" with Nave's Topical Bible.  The organization which claims to teach the "truth" about the Bible needs to significantly cut down the time to match the hours or mere days as described in various Biblical accounts.  

 

Here's another way of looking at it:

264,535=Total Number Baptized

119,485=Total Congregations

2.2 people baptized per congregation

 

If you look through the following pages, the top five countries baptismally speaking are:

Brazil=32,978

United States=28,588

Mexico=17,190

Democratic Republic of Congo=15,295

Nigeria=12,904

 

I personally believe the trends are a sign of future trouble.  The first indication is the United States where the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is headquartered is in second place.  This is where's Jehovah's blessing should be raining down abundantly.  However, due primarily to internet usage, the Society isn't gaining traction like it once has.  Insulating present Witnesses against going outside the organization's approved resources works for the most part as the elder and custodian's husband will only bring up the official JW Library app when they meet with me.  However, those who are outside and free to investigate quickly see the "truth behind the 'truth.'"  Due to the relationship I've developed with these guys and to a lesser extent the Witness who stands in for the elder, I'm able to bring in non-Witness sources occasionally.  

 

The second sign is economics:

Brazil is not doing good economically.  

Mexico and the United States are holding but the last two countries are really struggling economically.  Couple this with:

  1. Other countries currencies below the U.S. dollar in the third world where the majority growth is.  Without a specific number, it could take four Witness contributions to equal one person in the United States.  
  2. The child abuse settlements with six/seven figure payouts.
  3. No expense spared building the new headquarters which is yet another failed prophecy:  "Altogether we concluded, after seeking Divine guidance, that Brooklyn, N.Y., with a large population of the middle class, and known as "The City of Churches," would, for these reasons, be our most suitable center for the harvest work during the few remaining years." Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence.  December 15, 1908 Reprints page 4294

  

Focusing back on Armageddon and the numbers, I've used Excel to perform statistical analysis on a few occasions.  I'm going to try and do the same when it comes to Armageddon.  My intent is to break the numbers down pretty concisely so you can see the quantitive (numerical) information:

  1. The total number of times the organization has used the word
  2. The number of times the organization has used the word within a particular publication.
  3. Total times per year it's been done.

 

I'll also attempt to do a qualitative analysis (commentary) at times regarding:

  1. Actions that Jehovah's Witnesses were to not perform as a result of Armageddon coming.
  2. Actions that Jehovah's Witnesses were to perform as a result of Armageddon coming.
  3. Liberal use of equating Bible verses to Armageddon.  

 

I gave further thought and if you read the post from last time, you will remember that the Nave's Topical Bible has over 20,000 topics within.  I am guessing that the organization has not covered some things during its existence in favor partly due to the Armageddon focus along with topics that it feels is what sets it apart from "Christendom."   

 

What I am not going to focus on at this time is the term such as "battle of the great day" or any other synonym that pertains to Armageddon.  This is going to be a strict word search as of right now.  So with that, I trust you are looking forward to this bit more.  I may possibly expand to include other things that are used by the organization where it is something synonymous with Armageddon.  Additionally, I am looking at possibly including Armageddon artwork that has been used as well at some point.   

 

On the other front regarding the Watchtower, there was a recent case that "hits home" due to my proximity (45 minutes away) is the Stephanie Fessler case.  If you're not aware, she was a Jehovah's Witness who was a victim of child sexual abuse.  If you frequent www.jwsurvey.org at all, there is an EXCELLENT account of actions that happened in the court of law.  Here's the links you can look at:

 

Part One

Part Two

 

I will let you read to draw your own conclusions but I still find it highly odd that this organization that has been disfellowshipping people for smoking since the 1970s for self-harm allows an adult to harm children, whether they be extremely young to those who are older and an "adult" in terms of physiology yet still impressionable psychologically.  I covered the Watchtower and Children previously that you may wish to take a look at. 

 

With that being said, I will hopefully be able to meet with my JW friends next week to continue our "study." 

 

 

Real Hope For Your Loved Ones Who Have Died-Part III

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Today is going to be a short one.  There was only three more paragraph to cover and the main elder who was normally here did not show.  In his place with the the Witness who got upset when he actually had to read Philippians 2:5-11 in it’s context. 


Here’s how everything went:

We came in and exchanged pleasantries.  They asked how I was doing and told them and we had a fun chat pertaining to life with coworkers.  The custodian’s husband was telling me how Friday was his first one off this entire year.  The main elder’s wife normally works on Saturdays so he went out with her since she rarely goes with him for anything.   

He had a list of accounts for the resurrection for me and he said, “well you probably know about these already” but we chatted a few minutes about them.   

I then couldn’t let something sit.  If you read the last meeting, we finished by talking about the spirit. I asked the other witness if within their Watchtower Library on CD-ROM if they have outside resources available to look at.  He replied that they do “when it’s appropriate.”  I didn’t think of it but I should have brought up Nave’s Topical Bible.  I asked if they knew about it.  They replied I did not.  If you are not familiar with it, it has all Bible verses (100,000) listed out by topic 20,000+). 

Here it is if you are interested: http://www.naves-topical-bible.com/

The portion pertaining to the spirit is here: http://www.naves-topical-bible.com/MAN.html

I was pretty much talking about the And yes there’s an app for it too. 

However, I kind of figured it was going to be a light day and actually kind of requested it as such since this “substitute brother" from the local hall doesn’t have the relationship we have.  While I was chatting about Nave’s, the custodian’s husband seemed express genuine interest as I showed him the online version.

We attempted to download the app to his iPad.  He was unable to and we joked that we are slowly getting him acquainted with technology.  What’s interesting is that only as of 2013 the Governing Body gave approval for the use of iPads in a Body of Elder’s letter, dated October 12, 2013.  If you’d like to, you can obtain it here: http://avoidjw.org/letters/2013-letters/ (scroll down to number 16).

Interestingly, this organization which statistically has the majority of members being more likely to be economically challenged is encouraging them to go out and get iPads, they being more expensive than most other tablets available even at the base level.  The majority of the time was spent looking at the various videos being promoted on the organization’s official app.   This organization, which once despised the internet (refer to the July 22, 1997 Awake! article “The Internet-Why Be Cautious?) is embracing this whole heartedly as the internet has been used to cut costs and to include personnel as this article cites: http://meletivivlon.com/2016/01/29/bethel-layoffs-damage-control/.


We chatted about how the organization is being banned in Russia and the Society is possibly spinning the information in terms of literature was possibly “planted” by the Russian authorities.  This story was seen along with Watchtower work in the Amazonian rainforest to bring the Society’s message.  He finished by saying how “you can see how united we are because we preach the exact same thing.”  I let this go.  What he doesn’t realize is the Watchtower enforces uniformity. 

Those who are in mainstream Christianity have unity.  The mainstream Christian would most likely agree to this saying by German theologian, Rupertus Meldenius in the early 1600s with this, “In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials liberty, everything else, charity.”  This means there are few major things.  They are what aberrant groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses oppose.  A non-essential for the majority would be how often to perform communion (some groups weekly, others monthly, etc.).

With that in mind, we took a look at paragraphs 23-25. 

This deals some with the 144,000.  What’s interesting is paragraph 24 says, So those remaining ones of the 144,000 who die in our day are instantly resurrected to life in heaven.  Let’s contrast that with p. 65 paragraph 19 starting at line 3: “For example, when you realize that people do not pass on to the spirit realm at death, the promise of everlasting life on a paradise earth takes on real meaning for you.”  So I asked as it doesn’t “jive.”  The sub witness said, “it’s an exception.”  So essentially the Society (according to the witness) allows some folks to be exempted.  Again, this is highly unusual as it’s contradictory.  Regardless, I wasn’t intent on making it too much of an issue.  I merely wanted to highlight the difference. 

This lead to me questioning a little bit about the 144,000.  Essentially, the Watchtower teaches only 144,000 people will be faithful enough to go to heaven.  The number for years was supposed to be getting smaller and the Watchtower said as much.  Allow me to demonstrate with the following quotes and numbers:

However, the time came when the number partaking began to decrease. What did this indicate? It indicated that the number of those called to the heavenly kingdom, namely 144,000, had come to completion and more were dying off than being added.
The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. June 15, 1966 p. 374

 

As the remnant of anointed Christians decrease in number and many of those who survive are limited by age, well-trained other sheep take up the slack, as it were.

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. July 1, 1995 p. 23

 

Memorial Partakers by the Numbers 1992-2012

8,850
Yearbook. 1992 p. 33

8,683
Yearbook. 1993 p. 33

8,693
Yearbook. 1994 p.33

8,617
Yearbook. 1995 p. 33

8,645
Yearbook. 1996 p. 33

8,757
Yearbook. 1997 p. 33

8,795
Yearbook. 1998 p. 31

8,756
Yearbook. 1999 p. 31

8,755
Yearbook. 2000 p. 31

8,661
Yearbook. 2001 p. 31

8,730
Yearbook. 2002 p. 31

8,760
Yearbook. 2003 p. 31

8,565
Yearbook. 2004 p. 31

8,570
Yearbook. 2005 p. 31

8,524
Yearbook. 2006 p. 31

9,105
Yearbook. 2008 p. 31

9,986
Yearbook. 2009 p. 31

10,857
Yearbook. 2010 p. 31

11,202
Yearbook. 2011 p. 51

11,824
Yearbook. 2012 p. 55

12,604
Yearbook. 2013 p. 178

Although it’s not 100% up to date, you can see the number hit bottom in 2006 and has been steadily increasing ever since.  The video here isn’t 100% up to date but is a good representation. 

 

So I asked about this in relation to the Bible which had over 3,000 people at one gathering alone and early converts such as Cornelius in Acts 10.  I coupled this with Foxe’s Book of Martyr’s.  This is something that was also completely foreign to them as well as this number would have been well filled in the first century alone. 

 

The response, “it’s entirely in Jehovah’s hands.”  According to this Watchtower mindset, one can live and literally die for Jehovah yet in their direct service be unfaithful and get replaced.

 

With that we looked at the last paragraph. 

 

To “get their time in,” the custodian’s husband wanted to talk a bit more about the JW Library App.  I was fine with this as they were barely there 30 minutes at this point.  He wanted to show me all of the videos that are now available on the website.  He took me to the kids’ videos.  He said, my grandkids don’t get to see this.  I took it that his child left the organization and he is now being forced to shun her and his children as well.  Continue to pray for him that with the last crack of openly admitting that Jesus rose physically, that perhaps this will be another one.

Chapter 7: Real hope for Your Loved One Who Have Died-Part II

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Today was the first day that my friends and myself were able to meet in the past three weeks.  Both sides have had respective engagements that prevented us from “studying” What Does the Bible Really Teach? 

 

Before we really get into this, I’ve noticed that only the elder will come as the “lead” and he substitutes if sick with a “brother from the hall” who perhaps he has confidence in that can answer my questions sufficiently. 

 

As is the norm, they like to interact with the kids by saying hello when they first walk in.  Both are grandparents so they relate as their grandkids ages overlap with my kids.  They had just started The Good Dinosaur movie so the elder asked if I saw it to which I replied, “I haven’t.”  One of my kids then says, “Grandma and Pappy have it.”  So this bought some laughter with us.    

 

We were to supposed to start on paragraph 21 on page 73, however, they said it was paragraph 17 which is fine as the 21st paragraph was going to be the sticking point and major contention.  The section is under, “All those in the Memorial Tombs.”  One thing that is related to this that’s been “forgotten” is from Johannes Greber which says the following:

The translation by Johannes Greber (1937) of these verses reads as follows: “Tombs were laid open, and many bodies of those were tossed upright.  In this posture they projected from the graves and were seen by many who passed by the place on their way back to the city.”  Aid to Bible Understanding.  1971 p. 1134

What happened in 1983 is the organization stopped using him after being caught knowing he was involved in spiritism.

 

They asked if I had read the Appendix pages 212-213 that deal with the Sheol and Hades to which I hadn’t done yet.  We covered paragraph 18 and I just instinctively used the name of Rahab from a sermon I once heard.  Chatting a bit about that, she was most likely according to the writer of Hebrews and supported by phrases in the Bible, a young woman.  They seemed intrigued so I went on and talked a little further.  I asked if they’d be interested to hear more and surprisingly, they said they were.  So I said, I’d email them the message to them.  Hopefully, they’ll actually listen as it’s a fascinating message.

 

Paragraph 19 on page 72 says the following, “What about all the people who did not serve or obey Jehovah because they never knew about him?”  The paragraph goes on to say that every body will get a chance to hit the “reset” button.  Essentially, the Watchtower teaches-if you don't accept the message this time, you can do it again when the resurrection happens.  This is again a direct contradiction of Romans 1:20 but we’ll let go. 

 

The question I asked was this, “What about those who purposely chose to not serve or obey after hearing the message of truth?”  The custodian’s husband simply stared at me.  Not in anger mind you but as one who never heard a question like this before.  This was so different since it goes against their “second chance theology.”  

 

Essentially what then happened is the elder said, “well all judgment is done by Jehovah (all judgment given to the Son in John 5:22) and I can’t place myself in that position.”  While he explained, I looked at the custodian’s husband and he couldn’t really “shake” the question I had asked.  The elder eventually said, “well, the organization can’t have every little thing written down and answered in the paragraph.  It’s in Jehovah’s hands”

 

They did their best to tie it in with paragraph 20.  Here’s the counter (read I Peter 4:5) and I didn’t want to fight this one as I focused on the next paragraph which is where we will focus our attention. 

 

The paragraph on page 73 says the following, “The Bible also refers to another kind of resurrection, one to life as a spirit creature in heaven.  Only one example of this type of resurrection is recorded in the Bible, that of Jesus Christ.”  I allowed them to go through paragraph 22.  At this point, once we answered the questions, I asked this question, “Why does the organization not cover all the verses about Jesus and the resurrection?”  They both just kind of looked at me.  Side note-the organization teaches them some verses on a particular topic, but not all.  I said, you may know where I’m going but let’s take a look at John 2:18-21 (I bought this passage up previously). 

 

John 2:18-21 says the following from the New World Translation:

18 Therefore, in response the Jews said to him: “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?”

19  Jesus replied to them: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20  The Jews then said: “This temple was built in 46 years, and will you raise it up in three days?”

21  But he was talking about the temple of his body.

22  When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples recalled that he used to say this, and they believed the scripture and what Jesus had spoken.

 

The other direct account follows: 

Luke 24:36-45 (New World Translation):

36  While they were speaking of these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.”

37  But because they were terrified and frightened, they imagined that they were seeing a spirit.

38  So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why have doubts come up in your hearts?

39  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.”

40  And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41  But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?”

42  So they handed him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

44  He then said to them: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all the things written about me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45  Then he opened up their minds fully to grasp the meaning of the Scriptures,

 

The last time these verses were brought forth raised a significant negative reaction.  However, this time it lead to a very, very good productive discussion even though at one point I was asked, “what translation are you using?”  The New American Standard Bible was my response (there’s virtually no difference here with the verses in the New World Translation). 

 

 

So they pretty much asked me to explain how this can possibly fit with I Peter 3:18 which says in part, “He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”  At this point of our relationship and “Bible study,” we can all be a little more frank with each other (and there’s been a good number of times when we laugh) so I literally said, “the organization is teaching you to see that 'being made alive in the spirit is the same thing as being ‘made into’ a spirit.'”  Surprisingly, this wasn’t argued and they allowed me to continue.  The purpose was two fold here:

  1. Demonstrate that the organization is engaged in eisegisis (reading something that isn’t there)
  2. Flatly contradict what was said/they believe with the following statement in the paragraph:
    1. Jesus was alive again as a mighty spirit person! What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005, 2014 revision p. 74

 

I was asked by the elder, “would you please explain how a spirit can have a physical body?”  He excused himself to the bathroom.  So for this I again went back to John 2.  Here’s the question/statement used with the custodian’s husband, “There are two types of prophets, true prophets and false ones.”  We both agreed that Jesus was a true prophet.  I said, "Jesus predicted He was going to raise himself back with his physical body." 


The significance of that is this (I didn't openly speak these):

  1. I placed the custodian's husband in a conundrum: Place his belief in the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or place his belief in the Bible (for these verses, I'd say the New World Translation applies)-either way they plainly contradict one another.  Which one would "win?" The inspired Word of God or a manmade organization?
  2.  If Jesus didn’t come back to life with the same physical body, He would be a liar.  Jesus obviously never lied.
  3. To know He would rise on the third day would mean He was conscious which again goes against the belief of "soul sleep" that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society "preaches."
  4. God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24, 3:15, 13:30).  Jesus raised himself.  Therefore, Jesus is fully God as Colossians 2:9 says (except in the New World Translation)

 

I then explained how our bodies are made alive because of the blood that pumps through it (the elder had come back by now).  I contrasted that with “being made alive in the spirit.”  I went back into Luke 24 at this point.  For our context, I started with the account of “The Road to Emmaus” (Luke 24:13-35).  Then I was able to really take the time to explain what happened in verses 36-43:

 

36: Jesus appeared to them as they were most likely in a closed room.  They agreed this was the case.

37: They thought they saw a spirit.

38: Jesus affirms that He is NOT a spirit. 

39: Spirits are not physically handled.  Jesus commands them to touch him. 

41-43: Further affirmation that he is NOT a spirit as He asks for food.  

 

They brought in how sometimes a spirit can manifest itself physically.  They tried tying this directly to Jesus.  However, I gently reminded them that Jesus said he was NOT a spirit using Jesus' own words.  

 

I explained that the physical body “powered” by blood has it’s limitations.  The body “made alive in the spirit” is capable of more even though it resides in the physical body.  The body made alive by the spirit has some extra capabilities.  At this point, I heard something MAJOR-the custodian’s husband OPENLY admitted that Jesus was raised with a physical body.

 

This led to them asking a little about “what is the spirit within a person?”  This was a question that I wasn’t expecting.  If you’re not a Witness, they are there to “teach” and you are what they call the “study” so you are to learn.  Taking the time to talk with them about this book and bringing the verses under the guidance of the Holy Spirit has allowed me to build “capital” and today they felt comfortable enough in our relationship that they can now ask me a question so they understand more what I believe.  Side note-I saw a presentation that Witnesses believe that Christians don't really appreciate the Bible.  If that's the case, these sessions we've spent with one another has been steadily eroding this notion.  

 

I openly stated, “I know at times we see different things in the Scriptures.  I want to take the time to ensure you understand where I’m coming from.  I want to make sure we aren't talking past one another.”  (This happens all too often when discussing the Trinity).  They gave an unspoken agreement and I was able to talk about the following verses:

 

2 Corinthians 4:16 (New World Translation) Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day.

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 (New World Translation) And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, exactly as it is done by Jehovah the Spirit.

 

Romans 8:10 (New World Translation) But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. [Note: The New World Translation adds the word “union”]

 

To give them the floor I asked for them to quickly explain I Thessalonians 4:15-17.  The elder quickly shied away from this as this in part is a “proof texts” that Jesus is Michael the Archangel.  They further said that these verses are “not easily covered.”  I let them go and simply reinforced “that those alive shall be changed.”  At this point, the elder asked me, “Can flesh go into heaven?”  I said, “I know where you’re going, flesh and blood cannot inherit” and laughed a little bit and they did as well as he tried to "get" me.  I then took them back to I Corinthians 15:51, 52 emphasizing the word “changed.”  I was able to briefly explain with our blood that would be considered “perishable" and being “imperishable” is alive in the Spirit.  The elder and the custodian’s husband both looked like he was “processing” what I said. 

 

The custodian's husband then spoke what he was thinking, "we have an inner person to go along with the physical."  I said, "yes." 

 

Time was quickly finishing up as I said I had to get a flat tire fixed but the elder said, “well you know, you're a lot like me, you need to investigate everything.  The main point is this: Jesus died for us, accept him and follow his commands then it’s alright.”  Again, I didn’t wish to belabor any point as he had previously demonstrated he didn't "investigate" these passages which are absolutely crucial and essential to the Christian faith. 

 

Observing their facial expressions they were processing everything said along with seeds being planted along the way. 

 

We set our next appointment as I looked at the elder’s field service card of his appointments.  I am not sure of how any of his other studies are going (about 12 on his paper) but I can only hope and pray that there’s at least one person who might be asking him similar questions within his “territory” to make him question more things for investigation. 

 

Some last items and I’ll be done:

  1. We spend pretty much spent better part of two hours on 2.5 pages.  Since they unconsciously elevate Bible “aids” to the Bible itself, they keep coming so long as we talk.  I'll openly admit, it's been an exercise in patience since the "Bible study."  However, patience and persistence has "paid off" as they are now comfortable enough to questions not related to the material. 
  2. We broke with smiles and handshakes.  Keeping cordial is absolutely key as they “study” with me.     
  3. These guys and their spouses are great friends (they lived with the other as a house was being done).  They spend a lot of time with one another, hopefully they are more candid and will be asking questions amongst themselves.
  4. The custodian’s husband verbally and openly broke with the organization’s belief regarding the resurrection (however briefly but PRAISE God) by openly stating to me, “Jesus was raised in a physical body.”  Significant because that Watchtower veil was lifted at a core belief and said in front of me and I'm not in "Jehovah’s organization." 

I’ll keep praying and ask you to pray that things will keep progressing.