The 7 very reasonable laws the Hebrew God requests of the gentiles..

a reply to: TheConstruKctionofLight
Thanks for the demonstration of 2 Timothy 4:3,4. Doesn't seem to matter much to you how much falsehoods your sources are using (as you've done it numerous times before and continue to completely ignore any factual/true information that debunks these false accusations). As long as it's 'tickling your ears' (what you want to hear about Jehovah's Witnesses, let's dig up some more dirt to throw), it's all 'good' (in the eyes of some people who just want their ears to be tickled)? No matter how ridiculous or far-fetched or blatantly false. It's still a nice distraction from anything I might want to say or have said in my commentary about bible teachings and any of the relevant bible quotations.

Here, I'll answer one question from one of your sources, the question was:

"Was Charles Taze Russell a 33rd Degree Freemason as was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon cult?"

No. He wasn't even a Freemason, let alone 33rd Degree (which nicely juices up that myth/false story). These people tend to be more interested in Freemasonry degrees and hierarchy than the bible and bible teachings. Especially what 1 Timothy 6:4 refers to as "slander, wicked suspicions" are efficient in 'tickling the ears' of some people.

Was Charles Taze Russell a Mason? No, he was not! (blog)

2 Timothy 4:3,4

For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.* 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.*

1st *: Or “healthful; beneficial.”
2nd *: Or “to tell them what they want to hear.”
3rd *: Greek: mythos; KJV: "myths"

1 Timothy 6:3-5

3 If any man teaches another doctrine and does not agree with the wholesome* [Or “healthful; beneficial.”] instruction, which is from our Lord Jesus Christ, nor with the teaching that is in harmony with godly devotion, 4 he is puffed up with pride and does not understand anything. He is obsessed* [Or “has an unhealthy fascination.”] with arguments and debates about words. These things give rise to envy, strife, slander,* [Or “abusive speeches.”] wicked suspicions, 5 constant disputes about minor matters by men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to eliminate the pretext of those who are wanting a basis for being found equal to us in the things about which they boast. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness. But their end will be according to their works.

Matthew 12:33-37

33 “Either you make the tree fine and its fruit fine or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, for by its fruit the tree is known. 34 Offspring of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are wicked? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things. 36 I tell you that men will render an account on Judgment Day for every unprofitable* [Or “worthless.”] saying that they speak; 37 for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Ephesians 4:29

29 Let a rotten word not come out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up as the need may be, to impart what is beneficial to the hearers.

Notice the application of 2 Timothy 4:3,4 at the end of this video:

What Epidome claims & what Russell really said, Did Epidome research the topic?

originally posted by: TheConstruKctionofLight
a reply to: whereislogic

Was Charles Taze Russell a 33rd Degree Freemason as was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon cult? Carefully notice the Masonic cross at the upper left corner of the photo below... The Masonic cross used by the Masonic Jehovah's Witnesses. Russell and the Watch Tower Bible and Track Society in the Greatest Masonic Center Cemetery. ... Notice the illuminati pyramid.

Notice the propagandistic spin to paint a slanderous picture and sell a myth? It's so exaggerated it's almost funny. A symbol that has been used by the Churches these very people that are making these arguments belong to or get some of their information or teachings from (I used to know of a video showing a whole bunch of Churches using the same cross and crown symbol, baptists, methodists, protestants, Roman Catholics, but can't find it anymore) becomes a "Masonic cross" (even though the actual Masonic symbol being referred to, the Masonic variation of the "cross and crown symbol" is actually slightly different as the one used by those who referred to themselves as "bible students" and the cross and crown symbol in general is clearly not used only by Freemasons, when considering all the variations of it that have been used; quoting wikipedia regarding the term "cross and crown symbol"). A regular cemetery becomes "the Greatest Masonic Center Cemetery"; what, just spinning it into a "Masonic Cemetery" wasn't dramatic enough? Now it's even the "Greatest"? And a regular pyramid marker with no significance other than mark a whole area (275 burial plots) from a distance becomes an "illuminati pyramid". Talk about chasing shadows.

Charles Taze Russell died in 1916, the Pyramid marker was installed in 1921 (5 years after his death), and the Masonic Temple was built in the mid 1990s, these items have nothing to do with Pastor Russell's grave. The Masonic Temple is not even on the cemetery grounds, it is a different property altogether. In fact, the Rosemont United Cemetery was never a Masonic cemetery.

Source: the blog I linked earlier, 2nd paragraph

An official Freemason website states: "Russell was not a Freemason. Neither the symbols found in the Watchtower nor the cross and crown symbol are exclusively Masonic."

Source: Talk:Charles Taze Russell/Archive 5 - Wikipedia

Oh, and btw, Joseph Smith was a Freemason but he died before the 33rd degree was added. He died in 1844. From wikipedia on the page for the "Scottish Rite":

Officially, the Supreme Council, 33°, N.M.J. dates itself from May 15, 1867. ... The current Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States, was thus formed.[31]

Of course "33rd Degree Freemason" sounds way more dramatic.

Smith was raised to the third degree of master mason "on sight" by Grand Master Jonas of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.

Just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Source: Mormonism and Freemasonry - Wikipedia

Sometimes the truth of a matter is so obvious even people posting on "Yahoo Answers" can get it right:

Was Joseph Smith ever a 33rd degree Freemason? | Yahoo Answers

no because the Scottish Rite wasn't available to Joseph Smith or anybody else in Illinois at the time. Joseph Smith was a Third Degree Master Mason.

Can't even get their red herrings and (reverse?) bait and switch techniques right. Oh, but how some people love to compare Jehovah's Witnesses with Mormons anyway and give people the false impression that they are similar enough to dismiss them in the same manner with the same negative mental picture.

a reply to: yuppa

I said taxes not tithing..

“Lend unto ceaser what is ceaser’s”

Has always been interpreted as pay your taxes..

And that is literally from the mouth of a Roman tax collector..


To your request for proof

A). well for one thing Paul is traditionally accredited with being the author of 13 of the 27 books of the NT.. that’s right... the guy who wrote half the Bible never even met the guy..

B) Paul was a tax collector for Rome , who converted..

C) all the pay your taxes type verses are attributed to Paul..



D) There are lots of documents surviving from then , but I am curious of the historiography as well..


The but the Jews seem to have the whole story down pat..

I’m not sure if they have religious documents concerning like the high priests at the time..

a reply to: JoshuaCox

I dint say they are the devil, but they are a cult

a reply to: TheConstruKctionofLight

The only difference between a cult and a religion is that the cults “phrophet” is still alive..

Or

In other words..

Cult + time = religion...



There is NO difference functionally between one and the other..

a reply to: yuppa

Um.. Jesus was born a Jew AND died a Jew...


The religion that popped up and was created by his followers after his death..

a reply to: JoshuaCox

Cults prophet still alive? - man - you really should do some study.

But we know you're not serious about religion when you author threads like this


Should the Bible, Koran and Torah be Edited to Remove the Monsterously Violent Texts????
www.abovetopsecret.com...