Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

I listened through Amos and Hosea and I was surprized by the negative, connected to Bethel in those books.
I believe everything written in the inspired scriptures has something to teach us. It is as stated in Romans 15:4 (NWT):

For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.

So, what instruction could these verses have?

In this way one will certainly do to YOU people, O Beth´el, because of YOUR extreme badness.-Hosea 10:15 (NWT)

‘For, in the day of my holding an accounting for the revolts of Israel against him, I will also hold an accounting against the altars of Beth´el; and the horns of the altar will certainly be cut off and must fall to the earth.-Amos 3:14 (NWT)

“‘Come, YOU people, to Beth´el and commit transgression.-Amos 4:4 (NWT)

“For this is what Jehovah has said to the house of Israel, ‘Search for me, and keep living. 5 And do not search for Beth´el, and to Gil´gal YOU must not come, and to Be´er-she´ba YOU must not pass over; because Gil´gal itself will without fail go into exile; and as regards Beth´el, it will become something uncanny. 6 Search for Jehovah, and keep living, that he may not become operative just like fire, O house of Joseph, and it may not actually devour, and Beth´el may not be with no one to extinguish [it], 7 O YOU who are turning justice into mere wormwood, and the ones who have cast righteousness itself to the earth.-Amos 5:4-7 (NWT)

Is it not just what they do in Bethel-homes?

When problems arise in congregations, where do elders go for help. Is it not to Bethel?
But Jehovah says: Search for me, and keep living. 5 And do not search for Beth´el.

But if you go to Bethel to show them their errors, how will they recieve you? Won't they tell you in a similar way as they told Amos?

But at Beth´el you must no longer do any further prophesying, for it is the sanctuary of a king and it is the house of a kingdom.” -Amos 7:13 (NWT)

I do not think it is just an accident that the WT-society calls their offices and printing-houses for Bethel. But it is as it's written:

With the one keeping clean you will show yourself clean;
And with the crooked one you will show yourself tortuous;-Psalm 18:26 (NWT)

Best regards
Jan

Yes, Jan - I was also surprised when I first realized that - it's like they didn't read into the full context, but hey - they do that all the time with a lot of other subjects too. :whistle:

I never went on a Bethel bus trip to admire the inner-workings, tho' I was advised to - 'everyone should make the trip' we were told. To do what - see where the holy pages of the magazines were printed? Ooooo-ahhhh.:thinking: I didn't get it.... It seemed to me then, and even moreso now, that it's like a pilgimage to the Vatican, or a tour of Vatican City - taking pride in and giving glory to something so earthly...

Beth-El was a good thing starting out, but in time turned evil. There was an altar there dedicated to the one true God on which, by orders of evil leaders, sacrifices were made to other, false gods. And the people followed their leaders, not YHVH God. It seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy on the wtbts, doesn't it? In retrospect.

I really really enjoy reading your insights, Jan - the Bible on tape is a great thing isn't it!:friends:

:peace:

Hello dear sister Willa :giverose:,
Your kind words really warmed my heart:heartbeat:,
Thank you very much.

I'm happy that you also have found self-fullfilling prophecies on the wtbts.

If somebody want to get the Bible on tape, I mean mp3, I can suggest to download it free from http://www.jw.org
You can download in parts or entirely. Entirely it takes about 3 gigabites.

With much love to everyone
Jan