Part 8 - Jehovah's Witnesses and the Evil Slave

Who really is the faithful slave?

This is the last article of an eight part series examining the July 2013, Watchtower Magazine.

Overall, it seems that the Governing Body are in the process of subtly de-emphasizing 1914 in preparation for 2014, which will mark a century since Jesus is supposed to have begun ruling. They probably intend to completely walk away from 1914 by next year and hope that the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses will not notice. There is no question that the process is well underway.

Hence, the last study article regarding the identity of the faithful slave has ostensibly made the evil slave disappear. This is significant. But why have they done this? First, consider the supplementary information box in the article, where the Watchtower states:

Was Jesus foretelling that there would be an evil slave class in the last days? No. Granted, some individuals have manifested a spirit similar to that of the evil slave described by Jesus. We would call them apostates, whether they were of the anointed or of the “great crowd.” But such ones do not make up an evil slave class. Jesus did not say that he would appoint an evil slave. His words here are actually a warning directed to the faithful and discreet slave.

Under the last subheading the Watchtower resets the appointment of the faithful slave over all of the master’s belongings to a future time. That being the case, the master’s coming to the house to judge his slaves, which is when the evil slave is also judged and thrown out, is also a future event. That means that those whom the Watchtower considers to be apostates could not possibly be the evil slave. But for the past 70 or 80 years Jehovah's Witnesses have been led to believe that Jesus expelled a so-called “evil slave class” from the intimate company of the leadership of the International Bible students back in 1918. Even as recently as nine years ago an article in the March 1, 2004 Watchtower, entitled The Faithful Slave Passes The Test, the Society stated:

Before 1914, many members of the faithful slave class had high hopes of meeting with the Bridegroom in heaven that year, but their hopes were not fulfilled. As a result of this and other developments, many were disappointed and a few became embittered. Some of these turned to ‘beating’ their former brothers verbally and consorting with “confirmed drunkards,” religious groups of Christendom. These former Christians came to be identified as the “evil slave,” and Jesus punished them with “the greatest severity.” How? He rejected them, and they lost out on their heavenly hope. They were not, however, immediately destroyed. They first had to endure a period of weeping and gnashing of teeth in “the darkness outside” the Christian congregation. Since those early days, a few other anointed individuals have shown a similar bad spirit, identifying themselves with the “evil slave.” Some of the “other sheep” have imitated their unfaithfulness. All such enemies of the Christ end up in the same spiritual “darkness outside.”

Now, though, the Governing Body claims that no such evil slave class exists. Only a few disparate individuals have displayed certain characteristics common to the evil slave of Christ’s parable. Jesus’ comment – “if ever that slave”— is cleverly reduced to a mere warning, with the implication that no such evil slave will ever be manifested.

In order to accomplish this bit of trickery the Governing Body employs a fallacy of argumentation called a straw man. Their straw man is the presumed belief that Jesus appoints an evil slave. But no one believes that. To my knowledge the Watchtower has never taught that.

The Watchtower constructs a straw man argument regarding the evil slave

But does the evil slave have to be appointed by Christ? Of course not. Did Jesus knowingly appoint the son of destruction as an apostle? Again, of course not. Judas became a thief and eventually betrayed Jesus. But originally Jesus must have considered him to be faithful. So it is, that Jesus appoints those who prove themselves to be faithful. However, because the master is seemingly delaying  some of the otherwise faithful slaves become evil. That is the point of the illustration. It is not merely a hypothetical. Does not the very fact that Jesus posed the question - Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? - imply that not all of those who are appointed will prove themselves to be faithful and discreet?

Obviously, it became necessary for the Watchtower to dissolve the evil slave class since some of Jehovah's Witnesses may actually be astute enough to discern that if the master has not yet come to judge his household of slaves, and Bethel is that house, than the evil slave must presently be associated with the Watchtower. (It would certainly explain a lot that is otherwise mystifying. For example, the Watchtower's secret ten-year partnership with United Nations is certainly the case of associating with the drunkards.)

Just as the Watchtower has cleverly placed the man of lawlessness outside the organization,  identifying him as the clergy of Christendom, even though Paul clearly stated that Satan's agent sits himself within the very temple of The God, so too, the evil slave has also been relegated to the netherworld with no possible influence over Jehovah's Witnesses in the future.

What does all of this mean?

Consider an important adjunct to the parable of the two slaves in the 12th chapter of Luke, which the Society adroitly neglects to consider. After saying that the evil slave would be punished with the greatest severity Jesus went on to state: “Then that slave that understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do in line with his will will be beaten with many strokes. But the one that did not understand and so did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few. Indeed, everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him; and the one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual of him. I came to start a fire on the earth, and what more is there for me to wish if it has already been lighted?”

In this context Jesus makes it certain that there are two sorts of slaves and both of them are destined to be punished, albeit individually, according to the degree of their guilt. The evil slave is willfully neglectful. And the other is merely ignorant.

Keep in mind that after Jesus was resurrected he sternly rebuked his apostles on numerous occasions for their thick-headedness and ignorance. Shall the self-aggrandizing and woefully blind “faithful slave” somehow escape the master’s rebuke when he comes? (See article: Who Is Blind?)

Please note that in the context of the flogging of the slaves Jesus said that he came to start a fire. In the same issue of the Watchtower the Society continues to insist that Jesus has already come as the refiner. However, they rightly now teach that he is coming in the future to settle accounts with his slaves. But according to Malachi Jesus’ coming will be with the fire of a refiner. No wonder Malachi asks: “But who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears? For he will be like the fire of a refiner…”

But who will be putting up with the day of his coming?

Jehovah’s judgments are contained throughout the Hebrew prophecies and will be realized at the coming of Christ. There are many such prophecies that indicate that Christ’s coming will be to eliminate an evil presence within the leadership of God’s people. Malachi is merely one. Consider Zephaniah 3:11-13, the context of which pertains to the occasion when God pours out his burning anger, which results in the following: “In that day you will not be ashamed because of all your dealings with which you transgressed against me, for then I shall remove from the midst of you your haughtily exultant ones; and you will never again be haughty in my holy mountain. And I shall certainly let remain in the midst of you a people humble and lowly, and they will actually take refuge in the name of Jehovah. As regards the remaining ones of Israel, they will do no unrighteousness, nor speak a lie, nor will there be found in their mouths a tricky tongue; for they themselves will feed and actually lie stretched out, and there will be no one making them tremble.”

Just as the stupid prophets are destined to be removed from the intimate company of God’s people, the “haughtily exultant ones” are too. The days for the glorification of the Society and its “faithful slave” are nearly at an end. The July 2013, Watchtower Magazine, is a vivid demonstration of the use of a “tricky tongue,” or pen as the case may be. The now-onrushing fiery day of Jehovah will incinerate the Watchtower’s 1914 lie and devour those who knowingly promote the lie.

But many of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have the true faith will survive the disaster that is destined to befall the faithless and evil slaves in their midst. They will endure God’s rebuke and emerge as “a people humble and lowly,” who will never again idolize any earthly institution.

Part 7 - Let him that has ears listen

Let him that has ears listen

It can be painful and traumatic to come to terms with deliberate deception, especially when it is discovered that the deceit emanates from a person of whom we may be fond, or an institution with which we may be associated.

We see it all the time. People cannot believe their trusted political leaders can be so two-faced and treacherous. Churchgoers simply refuse to consider the possibility that nearly everything they are told by their clergy is a lie. And it is especially hard for Jehovah's Witnesses to come to grips with the fact that the Watchtower has dealt treacherously with them and has misled them, particularly as regards the supposed return of Jesus Christ in 1914. After all, Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth. All the error and falsehood exists outside the protective organization. Right?

Now consider the 16th paragraph of the July, 2013 Watchtower:

Fifth, shining brightly. Jesus ends his prophecy by saying: “At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matt. 13:43) When and where will that be? The fulfillment of these words still lies ahead. Jesus foretold, not an activity currently taking place on earth, but a future event occurring in heaven. * Consider two reasons for this conclusion.

(The asterisk footnote reads: Daniel 12:3 states that “the ones having insight [anointed Christians] will shine like the brightness of the expanse.” While still on earth, they do this by sharing in the preaching work. However, Matthew 13:43 points to the time when they will shine brightly in the heavenly Kingdom. Previously, we thought that both scriptures referred to the same activity—the preaching work.)

Unfortunately, the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses are probably not aware of what the Watchtower used to teach on these relatively obscure points. And for that reason the Society is emboldened to make rather profound “adjustments” in a very casual and nearly undetectable way. Throughout this issue of the Watchtower the Society has made a number of adjustments by means of mere footnotes, as if they were relatively unimportant side points.

Hence, as regards the paragraph above it should be noted that both Jesus and the prophet Daniel foretold the sons of the kingdom will shine like the sun in the expanse of heaven, yet the Watchtower makes no connection between the two now – claiming that Daniel’s prophecy has already been fulfilled by the preaching of anointed Jehovah's Witnesses; whereas, the words of Jesus are now believed to be fulfilled when all the chosen ones are in heaven. The Watchtower is wrong on both counts. But before we examine their error more closely first consider the next paragraph:

First, the “when” question. Jesus said: “At that time the righteous ones will shine.” The phrase “at that time”  evidently refers to the event that Jesus had just mentioned, namely, the ‘pitching of the weeds into the fiery furnace.’ That occurs during the final part of the great tribulation. Thus, the ‘shining brightly’ of the anointed must occur at that future time as well. Second, the “where” question. Jesus said that the righteous ones will ‘shine in the kingdom.’ What does that mean? All faithful anointed ones who are still on earth after the initial part of the great tribulation has passed will already have received their final sealing. Then, as indicated in Jesus’ prophecy about the great tribulation, they will be gathered to heaven. (Matt. 24:31) There they will shine “in the kingdom of their Father,” and shortly after the battle of Armageddon, they will share as Jesus’ joyous bride in “the marriage of the Lamb.”—Rev. 19:6-9.

The prophecy of Daniel does not indicate that the phenomenon of shining like the expanse of the heavens is the ordinary preaching of Christians. Anyone who simply reads the prophecy at Daniel 12: 1-3 ought to be able to discern that the “ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse” during the tribulation. In fact, verse three is the concluding verse of the extensive prophecy of the king of the north and south. Here is what the prophecy says in context:

“And during that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your people. And there will certainly occur a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time your people will escape, every one who is found written down in the book. And there will be many of those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up, these to indefinitely lasting life and those to reproaches and to indefinitely lasting abhorrence. And the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse; and those who are bringing the many to righteousness, like the stars to time indefinite, even forever. And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.”

Why does the Watchtower fabricate two different meanings for what is clearly the same phenomenon? Because in Daniel those who shine like the brightness of heaven are said to bring the many to righteousness and the Society claims that it is accomplishing this work now. Not only that, but it claims that those having insight are those who are able to discern that Jesus returned in 1914. Here is what they state in their Pay Attention to Daniel’s Prophecy commentary:

After all, who but the faithful anointed remnant had the insight to discern that Michael, the Great Prince, began standing as King in 1914? By preaching such truths as this—as well as by maintaining Christian conduct—they have been “shining as illuminators” in this spiritually bedarkened world. Concerning them, Jesus prophesied: “At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”— Daniel 12:3 even tells us what work would occupy these anointed Christians in the time of the end. They would be “bringing the many to righteousness.” The anointed remnant set about gathering the remaining number of the 144,000 joint heirs of Christ. When that work was completed—evidently by the mid-1930’s—they began gathering the “great crowd” of “other sheep.”

For one thing, the prophecy of Daniel indicates that Michael does not stand up until such time as the king of the north launches global genocide, or as the prophecy words it: “he will certainly go forth in a great rage in order to annihilate and to devote many to destruction.”  It is “during that time” that Michael will stand up. His standing up means he asserts his dominion and power over the last king – completely destroying him.

So, since the “ones having insight” are mentioned in context with the tribulation the prophecy of Daniel and the phenomenon Christ foretold in connection with the harvest are the same thing.

That means that the world wide work of preaching the good news sponsored by the Watchtower Society is not what brings the many to righteousness. The fact that the Watchtower just can’t seem to get these vital matters clearly into focus is evidence that the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses is sorely lacking in insight! The reason being: The book of Daniel is still sealed up, because the time of the end, also known as the conclusion – the harvest – has not begun yet.

The truth of the matter is their lack of insight is the means by which Jehovah keeps the prophecy of Daniel sealed up until such time as the unveiling, also known as the apocalypse or revelation.

Bethel's deception and lack of insight are evident in another way as well. Returning to Jesus’ parable of the harvest, the Watchtower claims that their shining as brightly as the sun in the kingdom is in reference to their merely being in heaven. But please take note of the fact that Jesus twice referred to the kingdom in his brief parable. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, the July 2013, Watchtower Magazine, offers no commentary whatsoever on what it means that the angels are dispatched to remove all the stumbling block and persons doing lawlessness “out from his kingdom.” Obviously, the kingdom in that context is not in reference to heaven. Or are we to suppose that stumbling blocks and persons doing lawlessness exist in heaven? Let us hope not.

The question thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to consider is this: Is it reasonable that Jesus intended for his hearers to attach two different meanings to the kingdom in the same context? Is not this yet another example of the Watchtower employing what Jehovah condemns in Ezekiel as the use of double-faced divination by the stupid prophets in the intimate company of his people? (See article: Woe to the Stupid Prophets) No wonder Jesus concluded his parable by saying: “At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen.” The implication is not everyone has ears to listen.

 So what is meant by the righteous ones, or those having insight, who “will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom”?

If you are one that has ears to listen and are familiar with the information presented here on e-Watchman you likely realize that my purpose is to build anticipation for the future parousia of Christ. And it has been presented in numerous articles that the real parousia will not be invisible. Jesus is going to reveal himself to the chosen ones, which is what was typified by the Transfiguration. At that point they are accepted into the kingdom of God and are fully illuminated. Thus, the revealing of the sons of God will be accomplished.

The manifestation of Christ to the chosen ones will be completely outside the auspices of the Watchtower Society and will most certainly render it irrelevant. Indeed, let him that has ears listen!

The transfiguration was a preview of the power and presence of Jesus

Related articles:

The Parousia

The Visible Presence of Christ

The Visible Parousia

The Revelation of Christ and the Two Witnesses

Part 6 - The Coming of Christ

Jesus walks among the golden lamp stands, with a long sword protruding from his mouth to war against the evil slaves in the house of God

This is a continuation of the consideration of the July 2013, Watchtower.

In the fifth paragraph under the subheading of A Messenger Clears Up The Way, the concluding sentences state:

Jesus was the second messenger. He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem twice—first at the start of his ministry and second toward the end. (Matt. 21:12, 13; John 2:14-17) Hence, Jesus’ cleansing work involved a period of time.

The Watchtower is here implying that Jesus did a cleansing work of the Jewish temple for the whole duration of his ministry. This is simply not true. It is true that Jesus chased off the moneychangers and robbers on two separate occasions – both when he attended the festival of the Passover, but it was not an ongoing process. (Not coincidently, the prophetic time periods when God’s judgments are brought about during the time of the end are roughly equal to the duration of Jesus’ earthly ministry. See article: Regarding Times and Seasons)

The reason Bethel makes this claim is so to give credence to the notion that Jesus began an inspection of the spiritual temple in 1914 and that the inspection and harvest have been ongoing ever since. This, of course, dilutes and diminishes the importance of Jesus coming to judge his congregation.

Jesus himself explained that John the Baptist was the Elijah-like forerunner of the Messiah in the first century. And the modern application? The sixth paragraph continues, stating:

What is the larger fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? During the decades leading up to 1914, C. T. Russell and his close associates did a work like that of John the Baptizer. That vital work involved restoring Bible truths. The Bible Students taught the true meaning of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, exposed the hellfire lie, and proclaimed the coming end of the Gentile Times. Still, there were numerous religious groups who claimed to be Christ’s followers. So a crucial question needed to be answered: Who among those groups were the wheat? To settle that question, Jesus began to inspect the spiritual temple in 1914. That inspection and cleansing work involved a period of time—from 1914 to the early part of 1919. * (The footnote states: “This is an adjustment in understanding. Previously, we thought that Jesus’ inspection took place in 1918.”)

The first Watchtower article went to some lengths to “clarify” what is meant by Jesus’ coming. The Society stated that the coming and arrival of Jesus would take place during the tribulation. And that is when the faithful slave will be appointed over all of the master’s belongings. That being the case, now consider the text cited for reading in the fifth paragraph from Malachi 3:1-4:

‘“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he must clear up a way before me. And suddenly there will come to His temple the true Lord, whom you people are seeking, and the messenger of the covenant in whom you are delighting. Look! He will certainly come,’ Jehovah of armies has said. But who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears? For he will be like the fire of a refiner and like the lye of laundrymen. And he must sit as a refiner and cleanser of silver and must cleanse the sons of Levi; and he must clarify them like gold and like silver, and they will certainly become to Jehovah people presenting a gift offering in righteousness. And the gift offering of Judah and of Jerusalem will actually be gratifying to Jehovah, as in the days of long ago and as in the years of antiquity.”

Please take note of the fact that in the span of those three versus the word “come” appears twice and the word “coming” appears once. And yet the Society insists that this particular coming of Christ occurred in 1914. This can easily be demonstrated to be false.

The purpose of the coming of the messenger of the covenant is to refine and cleanse those who are to ultimately serve as priests in the kingdom of God, typified by the sons of Levi who ministered to God in the typical tabernacle and temple.

Now consider what Jesus said to several of the symbolic seven congregations that would be in existence during the day of the Lord. For example, to some in the Ephesian congregation who had lost the love they had at first, Jesus says: “Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and repent and do the former deeds. If you do not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

Please take note of the phrase: “I am coming to you.” Has this “coming” of the Lord already occurred? No. For Jesus goes on to say “to him that conquers.” Not even the Governing Body boasts of having conquered yet. Jesus also speaks of his coming to the Pergamum congregation. And to those in Sardis Jesus says: “Certainly unless you wake up, I shall come as a thief, and you will not know at all at what hour I shall come upon you. Nevertheless, you do have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their outer garments, and they shall walk with me in white ones, because they are worthy. He that conquers will thus be arrayed in white outer garments; and I will by no means blot out his name from the book of life, but I will make acknowledgment of his name before my Father and before his angels.”

Here Jesus again speaks of his coming as a thief, which the July issue of the Watchtower under review states did not occur in 1914, but will occur in the future; which is surely true. That being the case, since Jesus indicates that only a few in the Sardis congregation have not defiled there outer garments, the implication is that Jesus is obliged to come with the lye of a laundryman.

By claiming that Jesus has already come as the refiner the Governing Body and the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses claim an exalted position for themselves. They, in effect, claim to have already been cleansed and refined and are made of the finest spiritual gold. They boast of having great insights into the hidden things of prophecy and of having the full measure of spiritual riches. In this they reveal themselves to be those lukewarm Christians whom Jesus addresses in Laodicea, saying to them: "Because you say: 'I am rich and have acquired riches and do not need anything at all,’ but you do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire that you may become rich, and white outer garments that you may become dressed and that the shame of your nakedness may not become manifested, and eyesalve to rub in your eyes that you may see.”

The apostle Paul indicated that the day of refinement would be like a fire, as Malachi said too. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood materials, hay, stubble, each one’s work will become manifest, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of fire; and the fire itself will prove what sort of work each one’s is. If anyone’s work that he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward; if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved; yet, if so, it will be as through fire.”

What is the “day” of fire about which Paul wrote? Obviously, it is the day of Jesus’ coming, which will burn up all that is not righteous and true. We may be certain that the Watchtower’s 1914 doctrine will be incinerated like so much hay and stubble. “The day” will show it up to be nothing more than an artfully contrived false story.

To be sure, the day of Christ’s coming and inspection is not drawn out over decades. Like his coming to the Jewish temple, his coming will be swift and sudden and accomplish its intended purpose in a relatively short period of time. As 1Peter 2:12 states: “…in the day for his inspection.”

"THEIR WEEPING AND THE GNASHING OF THEIR TEETH"

In paragraph 14 the Watchtower states:

During the great tribulation, after all organized false religion has been destroyed, former adherents will run for cover but will find no secure place to hide. (Luke 23:30; Rev. 6:15-17) Then, realizing that there is no escape from destruction, they will weep in desperation and ‘gnash their teeth’ in anger. As Jesus foretells in his prophecy about the great tribulation, at that dark moment, they “will beat themselves in lamentation.” *—Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7.

The footnote makes mention of yet another slight adjustment. Formerly the Watchtower had taught that the churchgoers of Christendom have been weeping and gnashing their teeth for the past century because of their supposedly having been “exposed” by the sons of the kingdom. Apparently someone at Bethel finally realized just how idiotic that is and thought an “adjustment” was in order. Still, in sleight-of-hand fashion, as the modern adepts of Balaam, Bethel adjusted Jehovah’s judgment to apply to the world at large – to those who “will beat themselves in lamentation” when they will be confronted by the sign of Christ. This, of course, is a lie.

On every occasion Jesus used the expression “weeping and the gnashing of teeth,” without exception, he used it in connection with persons who were in a covenanted relationship with God, but who prove themselves to be unfaithful. In every case, those who weep and gnash their teeth do so because they are thrown out of the company of God’s people. Besides the weeds that are uprooted out of Christ’s kingdom and the unsuitable fishes, here are all the relevant verses:

That is where the weeping and gnashing of their teeth will be

“But I tell you that many from eastern parts and western parts will come and recline at the table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens; whereas the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.” – Matt. 8:11

“When the king came in to inspect the guests he caught sight there of a man not clothed with a marriage garment. So he said to him, ‘Fellow, how did you get in here not having on a marriage garment?’ He was rendered speechless. Then the king said to his servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the darkness outside. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be. For there are many invited, but few chosen.” – Matt. 22:11-14

“But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.” – Matt. 24:48-51

“‘Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to him that has the ten talents. For to everyone that has, more will be given and he will have abundance; but as for him that does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw the good-for-nothing slave out into the darkness outside. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.’” – Matt. 25: 28-30

In the lead article of this very same Watchtower the Society stated that Jesus’ coming is in the future, during the tribulation, and that is when the slaves will be given their reward. But in a glaring omission they neglect to point out that there will also be an evil slave who is thrown out to weep and gnash his teeth and a good-for-nothing slave who will receive the same judgment. Instead, they claim that those who will weep and gnash their teeth are simply the people of the world.

If anything demonstrates that there is an evil and good-for-nothing slave today and that a thorough housecleaning is in order, it is this sort of con-man, flimflam contained in this issue of the Watchtower.

Indeed, it underscores the need for Christ to come and throw out those evil slaves and to punish those with the greatest severity who play the prince over Jehovah’s Witnesses today, and who are ensconced as gods within the Watchtower Society and who speak falsely in the name of Jehovah.

"Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"

Part 5 - The Harvest Is a Conclusion of a System of Things

MP3 Download file      “Look! I Am With You All The Days” is the title of the second study article in the July 2013, Watchtower, and is a consideration of Jesus’ parable concerning the wheat and the weeds. This blog entry is intended to examine the Watchtower’s teaching – testing it for authenticity.

You may read the parable Jesus expounded upon in the 13th chapter of Matthew on the Watchtower Online Library. By the way, the Watchtower Online Library is a valuable resource for those who may not possess the Watchtower CD-ROM. It is available in an astounding 77 languages! Although not as extensive as the CD-ROM in terms of older publications, Jehovah's Witnesses Online Library hosts the Daily Text and Theocratic School schedule for each week and virtually every magazine, brochure, book, booklet, tract, and yearbook published since the year 2000, as well as kingdom songs and the Bible. And the New World Translation is also available in audio on JW.org.

In a nutshell, as the saying goes, the Watchtower teaches that the parable of the wheat and the weeds applies to the entire Christian era. Jesus began sowing the fine wheat seed back in the first century, but by the second century the Devil had already begun to over-sow the field with weeds. Supposedly, all down through the centuries there have always been a few genuine anointed Christians scattered about, but they have been vastly overshadowed by the imitations. But then in 1914 Jesus Christ is believed to have returned, although Jehovah’s Witnesses do not use that particular term.

Nevertheless, the harvest is believed to have begun shortly thereafter – the harvest is a conclusion of a system of things – and the International Bible Students are said to have distinguished themselves as the genuine wheat; whereas, the churchgoers of Christendom have since been identified as the weeds and have consequently been bundled up and are scheduled to be pitched into the blazing furnace. There are, however, a number of difficulties with the Watchtower’s interpretation.

The most obvious discrepancy is the fact, as also pointed out in the previous blog entry in connection with the Society’s interpretation of the dragnet, the false Christians that were supposedly uprooted back in 1918, or whenever, have all died off anyway, before they experienced the weeping and gnashing of their teeth, or were tossed into the fiery furnace. Are Jehovah’s Witnesses to assume that the masses of misled churchgoers who have passed away will not even qualify for the resurrection of the unrighteous, but have experienced the judgment of the fires of Gehenna? If not, then how can it be that the angels have brought about the harvest?

Also, according to Jesus the angels not only uproot the weeds, but they also “collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling,” as well as “all persons doing lawlessness.” Please take note of the fact, that, although this is part of the parable Jesus related, and is even part of the assigned reading for the Watchtower study, the Governing Body neglects to even comment upon what this may mean. But why is that?

It is understood, or at least it should be, that in this context “his kingdom” is a reference to Christ’s congregation. Paul told the Colossian Christians that they had been “transferred into the kingdom” of the Son of God's love. But if the angels were dispatched a century ago, are we to believe that all things that cause stumbling have been removed from the midst of the Christian congregation? How can that possibly be? What about Rutherford’s Beth Sarim fiasco? How many were stumbled because the princes were not resurrected back in 1925? Without doubt even larger numbers of Jehovah's Witnesses were stumbled by the 1975 belly-flop. And what about the Watchtower’s secret 10-year partnership with the United Nations? How many were stumbled by Bethel’s treachery and lying cover-up of it? Even if it were merely for the use of the UN's library, which is not true, but even if that was the case, it was still an act of indiscretion that has the potential to needlessly stumble others. Or how about the tens of thousands of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been raped and molested by fellow congregants, and the fact that, in some cases anyway, the legal department strong-armed elders and prevented them from taking more aggressive action against known molesters? Or, what about the unseemly backdoor lawyering, where attorneys for the Society have filed legal briefs claiming elders do not have any responsibility to protect the children in the congregations from the crimes of deviants?

Are not all these the“things that cause stumbling”? And have not untold numbers already had their faith wrecked by these very things?

Isn't it time to face the truth and come to terms with the fact that the Watchtower Society is rife with stumbling blocks? In fact, it is the source of them!

Another discrepancy is that the Watchtower states that a wheat class became discernible about 30 years before 1914. By the Watchtower’s own admission then, since the International Bible Students associated with Charles Taze Russell had already separated themselves from the nominal churches of Christendom and had distinguished themselves by their engaging in a public ministry, why was it necessary for the angels to initiate a separation in 1918? Were not the Bible Students already completely separate and distinct from Christendom?

And as the article goes on to say, Babylon the great long ago “fell” and Jehovah's Witnesses are the exclusive instrumentality that God has been using to publish the truth. But if that is the case, has not the harvest been accomplished already? Restated: Since Jehovah’s Witnesses and the churchgoers of Christendom are clearly distinguished and there is virtually no intermingling whatsoever, why is it necessary for the angels to continually uproot the weeds and bundle them up? What purpose is served?

If you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses or perhaps studying with them, why not ask one of the elders in your local congregation to explain these contradictions and discrepancies? Or perhaps you might privately approach the Watchtower study conductor when this information is being studied in the congregation and ask him to clarify these things. If you are particularly bold, write a letter to Bethel or one of its many branch offices around the world. Ask them to explain these matters more fully. Who knows, you might actually get someone to think, and that is not always an easy thing to do.

A simple but telling question to ask is this: What is a harvest? I don't mean in a figurative sense, but literally. The answer is obvious. It is a relatively short period of time at the conclusion of a longer period of growth when the crops are reaped. The harvest time does not extend over months and certainly not years. It is usually a critical time for farmers to make haste to gather in their crops before they are ruined by the onset of winter.

Jesus, of course, was thoroughly familiar with all aspects of nature and many of his listeners were simple farmers and fishers, which is why he spoke to them in terms they would be familiar with. That being the case, is it reasonable that Jesus intended for us to understand his parable of the harvest to be a period of time that stretched out over a century? Jehovah’s Witnesses reason well when it comes to matters of doctrine, why is it, though, that sound reasoning and sensibleness are set aside when it comes to matters of prophecy?

Perhaps the most devious and cunningly disarming thing passed off as the truth by the Governing Body is that the wheat and weeds are clearly discernible, at least by Jehovah’s Witnesses. But if that were true it would not be necessary for the angels to be involved at all. The true sons of the kingdom would aggregate and separate themselves from the imitation. The assumption is that the weeds do not have anything to do with the truth.

The superfine apostles worked alongside the Corinthians and presided over them

Take the case of the superfine apostles, as I've written about many times before. “Superfine apostles” was the sarcastic name with which Paul dubbed certain men in the Corinthian congregation. Obviously, they were men of some stature who were looked up to by the brothers and sisters in the congregation. And to buttress their authority they spoke disparagingly of Paul and criticized him because he had a weak presence and he apparently was not a notable speaker. Apparently, the superfine apostles were Greek orators who mesmerized their hearers. In other words, they gave good talks. (2 Corinthians 11)

The Watchtower likens the superfine apostles to the clergy of Christendom, but that is obviously a false comparison. The inspired apostle said that the superfine apostles had transformed themselves into ministers of righteousness, which he pointed out was no extraordinary thing since they were merely following the pattern of the Devil, who continually transforms himself into an angel of light. The point being, Satan tutored his false apostles in how to do everything to appear as genuine ministers of Christ, so as to be virtually indistinguishable from the true ones, including preaching and working alongside the anointed brothers and sisters as “ministers of righteousness.” But, as Paul warned, they were “deceitful workers.”

Since Satan is still very much the ruler of this world and he is most intent on misleading those who have been called by Jehovah, and in view of his past successes in infiltrating the people of God with his agents, why is it deemed unthinkable or impossible that the Devil could replicate his superfine apostles today in the form of a Governing Body or other individuals in positions of leadership within the Watchtower Society?

Paul was dismayed that the Corinthians, whom he commended for being reasonable, put up with such unreasonableness on the part of the fake apostles. If he were alive today the apostle might similarly wonder why Jehovah’s Witnesses put up with the unreasonableness of the Governing Body and their phony parousia.

The truth is, the harvest has not begun. But when it commences, it will be accomplished in a relatively short period of time. And since the harvest only affects the living, the sowing of the seed must occur immediately prior to the harvest – in the same season, as it were.

As the Watchtower noted in the previous article, there is a future judgment. And Christ is yet to distinguish the faithful slaves and the evil slaves and the wise virgins and the foolish virgins. That being true, it ought to be apparent that the wheat and the weeds have not been distinguished either. And they presently grow together among Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Related reading: The Harvest and Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Man of Lawlessness

To be continued….

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Nazis

The golden image on the Plains of Dura

   The story of Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany standing up to Hitler cannot help but remind us of the three young Hebrews in Babylon who refused to bow before Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. It is the exact same issue repeated over and over.  For example, the original Christians were put in the arenas to face literal ferocious lions and their only hope of escape was to take a pinch of incense and sprinkle it on the conveniently placed altar as a sacrifice to Caesar. The reason things never change is because what is being played out upon the earth is merely a reflection of the great universal issues between Jehovah and Satan. Although most of Jehovah's Witnesses alive today have never had to stand before the lion, the day is coming.  The really good news is the test that is coming upon the world is going to be the culmination of the whole shebang.  This time Satan and his beast are going down. And those who come off victorious will have a reward so wonderful it is almost unbelievable!

History of Jehovah's Witnesses (Wikipedia)

Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany (Wikipedia)

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Holocaust

Part 4 - July 2013 Watchtower Review for Jehovah's Witnesses

MP3 Download   Part IV of the consideration of the July 2013, Watchtower Study Edition.

As regards the concluding portion of the leading article “Tell Us, When Will These Things Be?” the Society highlights another “clarification” that took place nearly 18-years ago regarding when it is that Jesus separates the sheep and the goats. (Wt. 10/15/95)

And the sheep he will put on his right hand...

In order to keep the 1914 myth intact the Watchtower has since then promoted the notion that Jesus has two thrones. Supposedly, he sat down on his kingly throne in 1914, but he has not really commenced the work of a king in carrying out any sort of judgment within the earthly realm of his domain.

The reason the Watchtower is compelled to fabricate a secondary throne for Jesus is because in his parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31) emphasis is placed upon the Son of man arriving with all of his angels as he sits down upon his glorious throne.

But if there is another throne and an occasion when Jesus sits down upon it prior to his arrival as the Judge of nations, why is there no mention of it in the context? (It should be noted that the passage does not make any distinction between thrones. It simply says that the Son of man will sit down upon his glorious throne – singular.)

but the goats on his left...

Is the judgment throne somehow more glorious than the kingly throne? And if so, doesn’t this diminish Jesus having become king? Besides, has not Jesus always been Lord and King over his congregation of believers? If his becoming king in 1914 had no relevance to the world over which he supposedly has become king, just what is the purpose of his kingship?

If we are to take the Watchtower’s teaching to its implied conclusion, it means that Jesus sat down on his kingly throne in 1914 and now he is going through another waiting period until such time as he must then get up and bring his angels with him in order to sit down upon his glorious judgment throne.

And, apparently, just to further muddy the waters (Ezekiel 34:18-19), in paragraph 12 the Watchtower states:

Jesus’ prophecy about the last days reveals that he will for the very first time act as Judge of all nations after the destruction of false religion.

But if God (through Christ) judges the nations after the destruction of false religion, why are God’s people called upon to get out of Babylon the great beforehand in order to avoid being punished when God calls her acts of injustice to mind? Are we to believe that God’s judgment of the harlot is outside the purview of Jesus sitting down upon his throne to judge the nations?

Besides the illogic that Jesus has two different thrones upon which he sits at different times, the most glaring contradiction is that the Watchtower teaches that there are actually two different occasions when the angels separate the good from the bad.

The harvest of the wheat and weeds is considered in the second Watchtower article. But, first consider what the Watchtower teaches as regards the related parable of the dragnet.

In the July 15, 2008, Watchtower discussing the various parables of Jesus, the Society claims that the organization itself is the dragnet of the illustration in the 13th chapter of Matthew. That is where Jesus said: “Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet let down into the sea and gathering up fish of every kind. When it got full they hauled it up onto the beach and, sitting down, they collected the fine ones into vessels, but the unsuitable they threw away. That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be.”

In their commentary the Governing Body has explicitly stated that the separation of the wicked and righteous is not the same as the separation of the sheep and goats. Here’s what they said, exactly:

“Does this separating refer to the final judgment of the sheep and the goats that Jesus said would occur when he arrived in his glory? (Matt. 25:31-33) No. That final judgment will occur at Jesus’ coming during the great tribulation. By contrast, the separating referred to in the illustration of the dragnet occurs during “the conclusion of the system of things.” This is the time in which we are now living—the days leading up to the great tribulation. So how is a separating work taking place now?

Literally millions of symbolic fish from the sea of humanity have been attracted to Jehovah’s congregation in modern times. Some attend the Memorial, others come to our meetings, and still others are happy to study the Bible. But do all of these prove to be genuine Christians? They may be “hauled up onto the beach,” but Jesus tells us that only “the fine ones” are gathered into vessels, which represent Christian congregations. The unsuitable are thrown away, eventually to be cast into a symbolic fiery furnace, denoting future destruction.”

Not only is what the Watchtower teaches in this regard contradictory, it is patently blasphemous. Because of their fanatical attachment to 1914 the Watchtower is, again, compelled to concoct an incongruous explanation, for the obvious reason that Jesus clearly stated that the separation occurs during the conclusion of the system of things. And the Governing Body well knows that their 1914 doctrine would come completely unraveled if they were to admit that the conclusion of the system has not commenced yet.

As stated, the Watchtower teaches that the symbolic dragnet is the organization itself, which I do not think is in error – except, they insist the net was hauled up on the figurative beach in 1919 and that the angels have been removing the unsuitable symbolic fish ever since – the fishes being persons who may have been studying or indecisive, but who did not fully embrace “the truth,” or perhaps, those who might be considered as simply weak in the faith. Also, in recent years there have been hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, who have made a complete or partial exist from the Watchtower.

The dragnet - From the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

But if what the Society teaches is true, not only would this necessitate multiple occasions when the angels drag up a fresh net full of “fishes,” as each successive generation dies off, to be replaced by a new haul of good and unsuitable fishes; but besides that obvious absurdity, the Society is obstinately oblivious to the fact that millions of people whom they deem to be the “unsuitable” have actually been stumbled by their doings, which have been widely advertised by ex-JW's and religious opposers alike in recent years.

But think about it, are we to believe God’s angels have been involved in tossing these “unsuitable” millions away, whose only apparent sin is that they cannot surmount the stumbling blocks placed before them? Seemingly, their unsuitableness is that they cannot commit themselves to becoming members of an organization whose leaders they do not trust.

Some ministers of Jehovah have studied with householders for years (contrary to the Society’s instructions to cut them off at 6 months) – spoon-feeding them nibblets of the truth, week after week. Have the angels of Jehovah actually been working against them all this time? How cruel!

Furthermore, Jesus said “that is where their weeping and gnashing of their teeth will be,” which the Watchtower says will occur when Jesus sits down upon his judgment throne in the future. But if the poor unsuitables who have been separated out by the angels over the ensuing decades have perhaps already passed away before Armageddon, how is it they have wept and gnashed their teeth in anguish over the judgment against them?

Ironically, but appropriately, it is the princes of Bethel themselves who will eventually have to answer to Christ for dishing up this warmed-over, blasphemous tripe. (See question from reader: How Will It End for the Watchtower? and articles: Woe to the Stupid Prophets and The Tables Have Become Full of Filthy Vomit)

WHEN ARE THE LAST DAYS?

The Watchtower issue under consideration makes mention of the last days several times. Jehovah’s Witnesses bandy the phrase about quite freely and it is always assumed that the period began in 1914. But did you know that Jesus never used the expression “last days”? As a matter of fact, the phrase only appears in the New World Translation in four places.

In the previous blog entry it was put before the reader that the variously expressed prophetic time periods in Daniel and Revelation reveal the interval from the time that Satan is initially ousted from heaven until the new covenant is concluded and afterwards Satan is locked in the abyss. That being the case, ask yourself: Is it even reasonable that the so-called last days should last for decades or even a century or more? If that is genuinely what God intended to convey, why not just call it the last decades?

For that matter, ought not the “conclusion of the system of things” bring about some sort of a perceivable conclusion? That is to say, it is true that since 1914 there have been two terrible world wars and many other wars and hardships. But at the same time great scientific and medical advances have also been made and there has been a relatively long period of prosperity, so that the world’s population has grown nearly 7-fold over the past century. What evidence can Jehovah’s Witnesses point to as convincing proof that this system has been in a state of conclusion since 1914?

The Watchtower has already been forced to redefine what Jesus meant by the generation that would not pass away. But are words used in the Bible really so hard to understand? Since the Bible also expresses the 3 ½ years in an equivalent of days – as in 1,260 days etc., is it not more sensible that this period of time is the actual duration of the last days and the conclusion of the system of things? (A previous article considered the related phrase: the final part of the days.)

Now consider the usage of “the last days” in context.

The apostle Peter first used the expression on the day that Christianity was inaugurated. To explain the astonishing tongue-speaking phenomenon that had just begun, the spirit-filled apostle spoke to the Pentecost crowd and explained to them that the Hebrew prophet Joel had foretold that God would pour out his spirit in the last days. But the book of Joel does not actually refer to the last days, or use any other similar expression. However, the prophecy of Joel makes several references to the fear-inspiring day of Jehovah; which, needless to say, did not occur in the first century, nor has it come about any time since then.

The day of Jehovah is near

The Watchtower’s embarrassingly absurd interpretation of Joel aside, a reasoned consideration of the prophecy reveals to our mind that the pestiferous locust, caterpillar and cockroach onslaught symbolizes the tumultuous overthrow of the present world order and also the desolation of the holy place. (See related articles: The Great Day of Jehovah is Near and Joel) That a place holy to God is trampled is apparent from the third chapter of Joel, which depicts God’s intervention to set things straight, and specifically, God states that strangers shall no more pass through Jerusalem, also known as the holy city.

In Joel Jehovah describes the military force he will acquisition this way: “There is a people numerous and mighty; one like it has not been made to exist from the indefinite past, and after it there will be none again to the years of generation after generation.”

Let the reader take note of the fact that God describes the army that is destined to devastate the earth in terms very similar to how the great tribulation itself is described in the book of Daniel and by Jesus Christ himself. That being the case, we may say with certainty that what is conveyed in Joel has not been fulfilled yet. Just like the tribulation, it will be a unique, never-to-be-repeated, global catastrophe.

Therefore, we may expect the ultimate outpouring of God’s spirit upon the sons and daughters who have already been begotten by the spirit, coincident with their coming to shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their father; and upon the menservants and maidservants, identifiable as the great crowd, during the oncoming interval of unprecedented tumult, which the inspired apostle termed “the last days.”

The next appearance of the term is at 2 Timothy 3:1, which is frequently cited by Jehovah’s Witnesses as proof that we are presently living during the last days. In context it reads: “But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.”

Civilization is on the highway to hell, and almost there

It is undeniable that over the past few decades Western civilization has gone into moral decline. Some sociologists point back to the 1960s as the turning point, when there was a rapid indoctrination of the younger generation into the so-called drugs-sex-rock & roll counter-culture. Then came the “me generation” – the degenerate offspring of the rock & roll generation.

Looking back over the past half century the downward trend is apparent. People are now completely absorbed in pleasures and pornography and are lovers of money and are becoming more and more violent, godless, egotistical and hedonistic.

But please reread the verse. Paul did not say that this condition would come about as a result of the last days or that people would become such during the last days. No, the apostle stated that the last days would bring critical times hard to deal with because men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money and so on.

It has taken several generations for the degeneration to become so pervasive that now some observers, who have no intention to relate society’s sick condition to Bible prophecy, recognize that the cultural degeneracy may already be irreversible and that civilization may come completely unraveled and sink into a dog-eat-dog fight for survival in the event of any sort of major global crisis, such as war or financial collapse – the very things looming large on the horizon.

Cage fighting - the new barbarianism

Sex and money is the new religion

Pleasure-mad revelers party like its 2013

In other words, because the present society has already lost the moral fitness to survive, “critical times hard to deal with” will be here once the last days actually commence.

Of interest to some, a few verses on in that context the apostle Paul referred to two characters; namely, Jannes and Jambres – who resisted Moses.  Interestingly, this is another instance of an inspired apostle relating information that is not in the Hebrew Scriptures – as Peter did with Joel.

Paul likened them to apostates and imposters – implying that during the last days wicked men from within will resist Christ. Paul went on to say, though, that they would make no further progress because their madness would become plain to all.

But, the point is, they do make some progress up to a point. Presumably, the apostle is foretelling that evil men will infiltrate the Christian congregation, similar to the superfine apostles who exalted themselves among the Corinthian congregation, and were undetected by the brothers then, but whom Paul also revealed to be imposters. In his saying that these men would make no further progress and that their madness would become apparent to all, this must coincide with the judgment of Christ and the bringing to light the hidden things during the last days. Will not the manifestation of Jesus also bring the man of lawlessness to nothing and expose an evil slave? It is marvelous the way the Scriptures may be harmonized!

The next appearance of the term under consideration is in the fifth chapter of the letter of James. In context, it reads: “Come, now, you rich men, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your outer garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are rusted away, and their rust will be as a witness against you and will eat your fleshy parts. Something like fire is what you have stored up in the last days. Look! The wages due the workers who harvested your fields but which are held up by you, keep crying out, and the calls for help on the part of the reapers have entered into the ears of Jehovah of armies. You have lived in luxury upon the earth and have gone in for sensual pleasure. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one. Is he not opposing you?”

Horrified Wall Street trader watches the big board

According to the passage from James, the last days are when the actual judgments of God are carried out. It is when money will become useless. Is it coincidental that there are growing fears that the US Dollar, Euro and Japan’s Yen are on a trajectory to shortly hyperinflate into absolute worthlessness?

The last days are also called “the day of slaughter.” Surely, no one is so unreasonable so as to suppose that we are presently living during that time?

Of note, the next passage urges Christians to exercise patience “because the presence (parousia) of the Lord has drawn close.” Here, the last days are connected with the parousia, and of course, Jehovah's Witnesses agree that to be true, supposing that both began in 1914. But since none of the passages cited already can be used as proof that the last days began in 1914, it is also evident that neither has the parousia begun.

Finally, 2 Peter 3:3-4 is the fourth place in Scripture where the  phrase appears. It reads: “For you know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: ‘Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.’”

Ridiculers and scoffers have always existed. The Jews mocked and ridiculed Jehovah’s prophets and scoffed at their judgment messages. The Jews ridiculed Jesus and the apostles too. The Proverbs urge the stupid ones and the ridiculers to wise up before it is too late, posing to them the rhetorical question: “How long will you inexperienced ones keep loving inexperience, and how long must you ridiculers desire for yourselves outright ridicule, and how long will you stupid ones keep hating knowledge?”

We should not suppose, though, that rejecting the Watchtower’s artfully contrived story regarding Jesus’ supposed invisible parousia is the same as ridiculing the reality of the judgment of God. In actual matter of fact, it is the Watchtower Society itself which ridicules the very notion that God will ever bring it into judgment!

Where is this promised presence of his?

Interestingly, in the large print edition of the New World Translation the publishers cross referenced the phrase: “Where is this promised presence of his?” The cross-referenced verses are Luke 12:45 and Matthew 24:48, where the evil slave says in his heart: “my master is delaying.” This connection was made quite a number of years ago when the NWT was first published, when the Watchtower Society claimed that Jesus had long ago rewarded the faithful slave and dismissed the evil slave.

But as of the  publishing of the July, 2013 Watchtower, the official teaching now is that the faithful slave has not been appointed over all of his master’s belongings yet, which means neither has the evil slave been exposed and punished.

"THE FUTURE TIME OF JUDGMENT"

In the concluding paragraphs of the first article Bethel unceremoniously re-sets a whole series of parables that for decades had been tied to 1914-1919. In paragraph 17, they write:

In the past, we have stated in our publications that these last four references apply to Jesus’ arriving, or coming, in 1918. As an example, take Jesus’ statement about “the faithful and discreet slave. We understood that the “arriving” mentioned in verse 46 was linked to the time when Jesus came to inspect the spiritual condition of the anointed in 1918 and that the appointment of the slave over all the Master’s belongings occurred in 1919. However, a further consideration of Jesus’ prophecy indicates that an adjustment in our understanding of the timing of certain aspects of Jesus’ prophecy is needed. Why so?

The next paragraph continues:

In the verses that lead up to Matthew 24:46, the word “coming” refers consistently to the time when Jesus comes to pronounce and execute judgment during the great tribulation. (Matt. 24:30, 42, 44) Also, as we considered in  paragraph 12, Jesus’ ‘arriving’ mentioned at Matthew 25:31 refers to that same future time of judgment. So it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus’ arrival to appoint the faithful slave over all his belongings, mentioned at Matthew 24:46, 47, also applies to his future coming, during the great tribulation. Indeed, a consideration of Jesus’ prophecy in its entirety makes it clear that each of these eight references to his coming applies to the future time of judgment during the great tribulation.

Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world may be shocked to learn that this latest adjustment did not originate with Bethel.  I don’t know what is going on behind closed doors, but perhaps after many hours of boardroom wrangling a hardline faction within the Governing Body or maybe upon the Society’s board of directors, has now reluctantly given into the moderates, at least partially, and accepted the view originally expounded on this website and through direct correspondence with numerous individuals and department heads at Bethel going back to the late 90’s. The fact of the matter is, for the past decade the future judgment of the house of God, which is really what this article is implying although it does not explicitly say so, has been the primary focus of e-Watchman. How else can the expression “the future time of judgment” be understood?

It is astonishing to me, though, that the Watchtower can make such a profound change in such a casual manner and neglect to expound upon the implications of their latest and perhaps most far-reaching “adjustment.”

The wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps

But whether they admit it or not, the fact of the matter is, they have completely repudiated their long-held notion that Jesus came to the spiritual temple and judged the house of God in 1918. They have repudiated their teaching that the bridegroom arrived in the dead of the night back then and the wise and foolish virgins have long since parted ways. They have repudiated their teaching that Jesus came and called his slaves to account as regards the talents that the master had entrusted to them.

Regardless of the comparatively trivial point of distinction as to whether Jesus’ coming and arrival initiates the parousia or the tribulation, whether intentional or not, in the span of a couple of paragraphs the Watchtower has casually telegraphed to Jehovah’s Witnesses that Christ has not come to inspect his congregation yet, nor have the people of God been made to pass under the rod of Jehovah’s judgment. “Let he that has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregation.”

Of course, as only the Watchtower can do, they then proceed to contradict the very thing they have implied, as will be shown in the next article.

But as regards whether Jesus’ coming to effect the separation of the righteous and the wicked occurs at the tribulation or with the beginning of his presence, consider the following span of versus spoken by Jesus himself: “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned. Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

In his reference to the “days of Noah” we should not necessarily suppose that Jesus was referring to the century prior to the deluge, when Noah and his sons were constructing the ark and preaching about the coming judgment of Jehovah.

Nor was Jesus comparing the actual Deluge with the tribulation. Jesus is comparing the  preoccupation of the people living before the Flood to the fact that the world will be oblivious to Jesus coming as a thief and the beginning of his presence. Emphasis is on the day “Noah entered into the ark” and the hand of Jehovah sealed the door shut. That was when the separation of the wicked and the righteous took place. “So the presence of the Son of man will be.”

Regarding "Times and Seasons"

MP3 Download  (Due to minor editing audio does not match printed, exactly) This is part three of a continuation of the consideration of the July, 2013 Watchtower. Specifically, a response based upon the graphic published in the lead article. (Click on illustration to enlarge)

Those who have studied and compared the Hebrew prophecy of Daniel and the book of Revelation know that they are many similarities. For example, the series of empires that have dominated God’s people are symbolized by various beasts in Daniel’s prophecy. Revelation depicts a single composite beast with seven heads composed of the various parts of the individual beasts presented in Daniel.

Both prophecies reveal that there is to be a last king who will tyrannize the world and subjugate God’s people. And, Daniel and Revelation both specifically name Michael the archangel, placing him in the role designated for Jesus. (See article: Is Jesus Michael the Archangel?) And lastly, Daniel and Revelation indicate that these things will take place during a specified period of time, which the 12th  chapter of Revelation indicates is “a short period of time.”

We are first introduced to the concept in the seventh chapter of Daniel, where it is revealed that the 11-horned wild-beast will make war upon the holy ones, conquering them for an enigmatic “time, times and half a time” – until such time as God intervenes and destroys the beast. Daniel’s account says of the beast, which is depicted as having 10 horns initially, but later an 11th horn emerges and plucks out three of the 10. And the 11th is different from the other horns and is said to have eyes and the mouth speaking grandiose things against God.

The 13th chapter of Revelation similarly depicts the beast that experiences a catastrophic blow to one of its seven heads, but from which, it recovers and commands that an image of the beast be fabricated and worshiped. That image and the 11th horn must symbolize the same entity – the last kingdom. But the resurrected beast of Revelation is also said to speak great blasphemies against God and to wage war against the holy ones and to conquer them for 42-months.

The 11th chapter of Revelation also indicates that the holy city and the courtyard of the temple of God will be trampled upon by the nations for 42-months. And in the next verse the 42-months is shown to be 1,260-days. The 12th chapter of Revelation reveals that the 1,260-days commences when Satan and his demons are hurled down from heaven by Michael the archangel.

The image itself symbolizes the last king (click on image for source)

For that matter, the metallic image in its entirety, portrayed in the 2nd chapter of Daniel as being composed of various metals and supported upon what even the Watchtower now recognizes as the Anglo-American feet of iron and clay, must likewise symbolize the last king – the image that all the doomed will be compelled to worship.

The eighth chapter of Daniel also depicts a final king, described as being fierce in countenance, who will supplant his rivals and bring the holy ones to ruin, along with the constant feature, the sanctuary and the holy place of the Prince of princes. However, this portion of prophecy reveals that the last king will prevail for 2,300 evenings and mornings; after which, the holy place will be brought into its right condition.

It is worth noting that during the creative days when the earth was being prepared for human habitation the account says that there came to be evening and there came to be morning, the first day, and a second day and so on. So that each creative day was specifically noted as having an evening and a morning, in that order. So, it is most likely that the 2,300-evenings and mornings is simply an encrypted way of saying 1,150-days, since each day is composed of one evening and one morning.  And in this case one plus one really does equal one.

Finally, the last chapter of Daniel contains a related time period. Daniel 12:11-12 states: “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and there has been a placing of the disgusting thing that is causing desolation, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy is the one who is keeping in expectation and who arrives at the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!”

The Watchtower, of course, teaches that these prophetic periods were concluded long ago.  For instance, the Pay Attention commentary on Daniel regarding the 1335 days speculates that it ran from autumn in 1922 and ended in the spring of 1926!  But if that is the case, are Jehovah's Witnesses really to believe that God has pronounced "happy" that relative handful of International Bible Students who have, for the most part, all passed away? What reward did they have for keeping in expectation, other than the fact that they might receive a resurrection like the billions of others with whom they now lie mouldering in their graves?

Obviously, there are differences between the 1,150, 1,260, 1,290 and 1,335 days. But  they are all within the 3 ½  to 4-year time range. What we can say for certain is that the beast will go through its trauma as a result of Satan and the demons being cast down. And that initial defeat for Satan will be as a result of the kingdom coming to power. It will be a time of unprecedented turmoil upon the earth as Satan goes on a rampage and will seek to annihilate all of Jehovah’s worshipers. But as we know, those who have died who belong to Christ will be resurrected first during his parousia, while the remnant of those who belong to Jesus who are alive then will be persecuted.

Daniel is sealed up until the time of the end

Since the book of Daniel is said to be sealed up until the time of the end and it can be proven that the time of the end has not commenced yet, we cannot say with certainty how the various aspects of chronology will come into play.

But just as Jesus’ earthly ministry was roughly 42-months, followed by a 40-day period following Jesus’ resurrection before he ascended back to heaven, during which time he came alongside the disciples in various manifestations of his otherwise invisible presence; and then 10 more days before holy spirit was poured out, putting the new covenant into force (amounting to 50-days from the Passover to Pentecost), quite likely these various time periods in prophecy will see similar things come to pass. It may be that by the end of the 1,290-days all of the holy ones upon the earth will have been killed off and instantaneously, in the twinkling of an eye, been resurrected into the heavens, bringing the new covenant to a conclusion.

And by the end of the 1,335-days this world will no longer exist and Satan and his demons will have been removed entirely. One thing is certain, though, the Watchtower’s chronology is a complete hoax. As if to emphasize their own fraud, please note that in the little graph accompanying the July 2013, Watchtower, the Governing Body claims that it is an “unknown length” of time from the time the disgusting thing begins standing in a holy place until the end.

Apparently, they have repudiated their own belief in prophecy.

Interestingly, the eighth chapter of Daniel states: “And an army itself was gradually given over, together with the constant feature, because of transgression; and it kept throwing truth to the earth, and it acted and had success.”

In their commentary on the verse above, the Watchtower states that it is the “transgression” of the king fierce in countenance; but obviously, the desolation is brought about as punishment because of the transgression of those who are administering the constant feature within the spiritual sanctuary.

By their perverse blindness and treachery the leadership of the Watchtower Society have demonstrated that they are the ones guilty of transgression. They are the transgressing “spokesmen.” The soon to come trampling will serve as much needed  times and seasons of humbling, disciplining and restoration.

In conclusion, consider the concluding words of the 43rd chapter of Isaiah, the very chapter from where Jehovah’s Witnesses have derived their name:

“I—I am the One that is wiping out your transgressions for my own sake, and your sins I shall not remember. Remind me; let us put ourselves on judgment together; tell your own account of it in order that you may be in the right. Your own father, the first one, has sinned, and your own spokesmen have transgressed against me. So I shall profane the princes of the holy place, and I will give Jacob over as a man devoted to destruction and Israel over to words of abuse.”

“NOW AS FOR TIMES AND SEASONS”

At I Thessalonians 5:1-3, Paul wrote: “Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to be written to you. For you yourselves know quite well that Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. Whenever it is that they are saying: “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape.”

Barak Obama speaking before the UN in 2011, declaring his determination to bring peace and security to the Middle East

In his saying the brothers need nothing to be written them as regards “times and seasons,” the apostle was indicating that the prophetic times and seasons, presently sealed up in the book of Daniel, do not lead up to the beginning of the day of Jehovah, which the anointed prophet and apostle of Christ revealed would commence when “they are saying ‘peace and security.’” Since the day of Jehovah is coming as a thief in the night, and no one knows the day or the hour, the times and seasons are scheduled to begin once Jehovah’s day has commenced and, in fact, reveal the duration of it.

The “instant destruction” that is to come upon them will coincide with the catastrophe depicted in prophecy, such as the plucking out of the three horns, the king fierce in countenance bringing the mighty ones to ruin and the sword-stroke upon the head of the wild beast. Does not Daniel indicate that after the beast is destroyed (“sudden destruction”) that there will be “a lengthening in life given to them for a time and a season”?

The designated “time and season” surely coincides with the specific prophetic time periods, during which time the vast majority of mankind will already be condemned to everlasting destruction because they will have worshiped the image and given their allegiance to the beast and rejected the kingdom of Christ and killed the holy ones.

Since the world already seems to be on a short fuse burning down to an explosion unprecedented in human history, we may expect in the coming months for the threat of war to subside and perhaps then “they” will be saying “peace and security” over some long-sought for – seemingly unattainable – agreement between Israel and Palestine and other Arab nations, at which point World War III will suddenly erupt and the financial system will blowout and the leading nations will topple (“sudden destruction”) – only to arise from the ashes to commence the concluding “times and seasons” designated in prophecy.

Concluding note: In the book of Joel God promises his people that he will make compensation to them for the "years" that the insect-like military force of Jehovah, also called the "northerner" (aka king of the north), devastated them. The "years" evidently are the three and a half years.

End of part three...

The Disgusting Thing that Causes Desolation

“However, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it ought not (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains."

MP3 download This article is a continuation of the July 2013 Watchtower Review for Jehovah's Witnesses.

In the previous article it was established that the Watchtower’s interpretation of the holy place, about which Jesus foretold would be desolated during the great tribulation, is in error. That may be easily discerned from the fact that the Watchtower derives its interpretation from a private source; meaning, what they have presented simply does not harmonize with prophecy.

Jesus advised the reader to have discernment and directed us to the prophecy of Daniel. As was highlighted in the previous article, both instances where the disgusting thing is mentioned is in relation with the constant feature and the sanctuary, which Jehovah’s Witnesses have been taught relates to the genuine congregation of Christ. And there’s no reason to doubt that. In spite of that knowledge the Watchtower’s interpretation ignores that connection. Therefore, it fails the test of being an authentic “inspired expression” from God. (See related article: When You Catch Sight of the Disgusting Thing)

Furthermore, in the sixth paragraph of the article already considered in the previous post, the Governing Body stated:

“In the larger fulfillment, the “standing” will occur when the United Nations (the modern-day “disgusting thing”) attacks  Christendom (which is holy in the eyes of nominal Christians) and the rest of Babylon the Great.”

Now, here is a question for thinking Christians to consider: If the holy place actually represents the unholy conglomeration of churches making up Christendom, why should it seem out of place for the disgusting thing to stand among them? After all, as Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, Christendom has always been inseparably intertwined with the political system. It could even be said that Christendom was established by the pagan emperor, Constantine, when he inserted himself into the bishop’s debate as the arbiter and decider of Christian doctrine. The Catholic Church essentially became an arm of the Roman and Byzantium empire.

Christendom has always been wedded to the political rulers

The Protestant church leaders have similarly prostituted themselves with the political leaders. When Henry VIII broke with the Vatican and established the Church of England, he established the monarch of England – be it king or queen – as the head of the church.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have always been viewed as somewhat of an oddity because of their neutral stance towards politics and nationalism, which, no doubt, is why the revelation of the Watchtower’s unholy alliance with the United Nations came as such a shock to many of Jehovah’s Witnesses – many of whom still refuse to believe there was anything to it. (See article: Strange Bedfellows)

But take a closer look at the words of Jesus regarding the disgusting thing in the holy place. Although the other gospel writers do not include this seemingly insignificant detail, the 13th chapter of Mark’s gospel quotes Jesus as saying: “However, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it ought not…”

Since the churches and the political system voluntarily work hand-in-glove, why does Jesus say that the disgusting thing will come to stand “where it ought not”?

The reason ought to be apparent, especially in light of what Lamentations 1:10 says: “The adversary has spread out his own hand against all her desirable things. For she has seen nations that have come into her sanctuary, Whom you commanded that they should not come into the congregation belonging to you.”

So, in other words, the disgusting thing “should not come into the congregation.”

We must not lose sight of the fact that there is a great universal contest that is being played out. Basically, all human affairs on earth are influenced for either good or bad by entities of greater power than mere humans.

Consider, for example, what is revealed in the book of Daniel. Daniel was informed that “the prince of the royal realm of Persia” had waylaid a powerful angel for three weeks, preventing him from answering Daniel’s request. Another powerful angel, Michael, who elsewhere is described as the archangel and the Prince of princes, came to the messenger’s assistance. But obviously, the prince of Persia was not a human prince. How could a mere human oppose an angel of Jehovah and thwart him from carrying out his assignment? The Bible reveals that one such spirit of fire slaughtered the entire Assyrian army in one night when they were intending to lay siege to Jerusalem.

Jacob wrestles with the angel

Jacob had a taste of the angel’s power whom he wrestled all night, when the materialized spirit merely touched his hip and made him lame. So, obviously, the so-called prince of Persia, and the prince of Greece who was foretold to follow him, are, in reality, demonic entities who dominate the world. This is, of course, in keeping with Satan the Devil being the god and ruler of this world.

As the ruler of this system, Satan has always coveted what belongs to Jehovah. And that is why, throughout the Scriptures, whatever Jehovah declared to be his, Satan sought to oppose, possess or destroy outright.

Not coincidentally, the spirit messenger who had been dispatched to Daniel and who was opposed by the demon ruler of Persia, was sent to Daniel to reveal to him what was to befall his people in the final part of the days. Since we have reached that actual point in time, apparently the demons are resisting the actual understanding and revelation of the truth originally delivered to Daniel. (See article: Daniel and the Parousia)

As another instance of demonic overreach, when Jehovah brought the Israelites into the bond of a covenant he declared that he would accept nothing less than exclusive devotion. But time and time again the Israelites were lured into idolatry. Eventually, the one who was touted as the wisest man who had ever lived, King Solomon, was seduced by his many foreign wives into building temples to the disgusting things of the nations surrounding Israel. Those disgusting things were represented by idols and given names like Molech and Chemosh. In reality, the idols were merely fronts for the demons to receive the worship that belonged to Jehovah.

Eventually, corrupt priests and kings brought various disgusting things into the very temple of Jehovah. The prophet Ezekiel was transported in vision from Babylon and bored an imaginary hole through the wall of the temple so that Jehovah could show him all the disgusting things the priests had done in his holy place. And we know the end result, that Jehovah used the rapacious and idolatrous Chaldeans to utterly destroy his temple.

It is noteworthy that that expression “disgusting thing” was nearly always used in connection with idolatry. As Jehovah’s Witnesses surely know, Christendom has been steeped in idolatry for centuries and Satan has seduced them into celebrating various demonic rituals from antiquity that have only thinly been dressed up as Christian celebrations. Laudably, the Watchtower Society has made a determined effort to jettison all those beliefs and unclean practices of Christendom.

Consider for a moment what the word “holy” means. It means something that is clean and spiritually pure. Hence, those who are anointed with God’s holy spirit and who have been cleansed with the holy blood of Jesus are said to be holy ones in God’s sight.  In fact, as a result of Jesus’ mediation in their behalf Jehovah considers them to be virtually sinless, provided they continue in the faith. And since God gathers his holy ones into a singular congregation, which comprises a spiritual temple ultimately intended for God to inhabit by spirit, the place of their spiritual habitation would rightly be called “the holy place.”

This is not a novel notion for Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Watchtower is well aware of these spiritual truths and has taught them for decades. So, why the lack of insight when it comes to discerning the holy place that is destined to be desolated by a disgusting thing?

The answer is because the Watchtower Society has been infiltrated and overreached by the adversary. The Devil’s truth-bending power is obviously on display for anyone with the insight, courage and honesty of heart to face the fact that the Watchtower has made an absolute mess of Bible prophecy.

Of course, nothing can happen without God’s permission. And it just so happens that God allows for “an operation of error” to go to those who know the truth, in order to test their love of the truth.

According to the context of Paul’s letter this so-called operation of error has to do with the official-sounding proclamations and written letters proclaiming that the parousia has begun and that the day of Jehovah is here. And the source of these announcements is a so-called “man of lawlessness,” whom Paul foretold would sit down in the temple of The God, showing himself to be a god. In other words, Satan has his agent situated within the holy place. (See article: Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Man of Lawlessness.)

The so-called mystery of this lawlessness is already on display in various ways. As already mentioned, the Watchtower’s secret partnership with United Nations was most certainly an act of lawlessness and not some innocent mistake as Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to believe. It was a calculated act that required considerable forethought to accomplish. In truth, it was a act of apostasy that, unbeknownst to Jehovah’s Witnesses, cunningly co-opted them and their sacred ministry into becoming mere couriers of literature, some of which was intentionally designed to promote the agenda of the United Nations.

In context, here is what Paul warned Christians as regards the man of lawlessness: “Let no one seduce you in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called “god” or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god. Do you not remember that, while I was yet with you, I used to tell you these things?”

The above account is certainly a fitting description of the Governing Body. Have they not exalted themselves above the popes and idols of the world? Obviously, Jehovah’s Witnesses are made to feel privileged to be part of an organization that has gloriously been set free from Babylon the great, and whose leaders are far superior to the corrupt clergy of Christendom. In this way a very subtle form of idolatry has been established – the idolization of the Watchtower itself. In other words, counter to Paul’s warning, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been seduced and are unaware of the evil that confronts them. (See article: The Idolization of Jehovah’s Visible Organization)

Consider, that, for the past quarter of a century all newly baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses, in addition to declaring themselves to be dedicated to Jehovah and Christ, must also publicly declare that they are followers of “God’s spirit-directed organization.” Again, this is merely symptomatic of the mystery of lawlessness that lurks below the surface.

But as regards the operation of  error, it is allowed in order to convince Jehovah’s Witnesses that the organization has God’s unqualified approval and all that God expects of individual members of Jehovah’s Witnesses is for them to dutifully follow the leadership of the Watchtower Society, clear through the gates to paradise. And Jehovah’s Witnesses have been conditioned to view any deviation from that as an act of apostasy. But what about apostasy from within? Why are Jehovah's Witnesses so cocksure that the Watchtower Society could never become apostate in Jehovah’s eyes? It is certainly a sobering thought to consider, is it not?

But this is exactly what has happened. And the apostasy from within is intended primarily to deceive Jehovah’s Witnesses as regards the return of Christ. Did not Jesus himself sternly warn that his return would be characterized by the multiplicity of false prophets and false Christs and convincing claims that the Christ is ‘here in the wilderness’ and ‘he is here in the inner chambers’?

Most sobering, Jesus foretold that during the thick of things, that is to say during actual tribulation when the holy place is desolated by a disgusting thing, false Christs will proliferate and be empowered to perform great signs and wonders, so that if possible, even the chosen ones might be deceived by the operation. Keep in mind that Paul foretold that Satan would employ all manner of deception, lying signs and portents, in order to set up a fake parousia.

Now, specifically, Mark recorded Jesus’ words as follows: “However, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing where it ought not (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down, nor go inside to take anything out of his house; and let the man in the field not return to the things behind to pick up his outer garment. Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! Keep praying that it may not occur in wintertime; for those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation which God created until that time, and will not occur again. In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days, no flesh would be saved. But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen he has cut short the days. Then, too, if anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ,’ ‘See! There he is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen ones. You then, watch out; I have told you all things beforehand.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses certainly believe that the chosen ones alive today are within the Watchtower Society – especially among the leadership of the organization. That being the case, how would it be possible for them to be deceived by outsiders, such as the clerics of Christendom? It would not be possible. Anointed witnesses of Jehovah would never pay heed to any outsider. The deception can only come from within – from a trusted source. Think about it!

But if the holy place that is destined for desolation is really unholy Christendom and all of Babylon the great, then how is it possible that after it is desolated that there would come false Christs who will display convincing signs and deceptive wonders in an attempt to lead astray the chosen ones? Worded differently, how would it be possible in the aftermath of Christendom’s desolation for there to be those who will be saying “here is the Christ” and performing “signs and wonders”? And why Jesus’ stern warning if the threat were not credible? For that matter, if the holy place is Christendom, why would it be necessary for true Christians to flee for their lives? Have not Jehovah's Witnesses already gotten out of Babylon the great?

Given the fact that the Watchtower has promoted a fake parousia  since its inception, and certain leading figures within the Society have shown their propensity for treachery and a tendency toward apostasy, and given the fact the Watchtower’s latest “clarification” is nothing more than the continuation of the obfuscation of prophecy, the only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn by an honest-hearted consideration of the Scriptures, as well as the facts at hand, is that the Watchtower Society itself is destined to become the source of the misleading pronouncements regarding the Christ during the confusion of the great tribulation.

Just how the disgusting thing will bring about the desolation of Christ’s congregation remains to be seen. But we may be certain the Watchtower has in no way prepared Jehovah’s Witnesses for whatever may occur. Likely, just as the Jews had cooperated with their hated enemy, the Romans, in order to do away with the Christ, so too, the Watchtower will likely compromise with the last king in some undeniable way – for the purpose of ensnaring the chosen ones. And just as the law had been a tutor that led the Jews to Christ, for those Jews who rejected Jesus Judaism became their snare when the disgusting thing brought desolation upon the holy place.

Similarly, the Watchtower now stands as a potentially lethal snare and an enormous stumbling block for those who are not settled in their faith. But it seems appropriate that the very organization that has led you to Christ could potentially mislead you from Christ at the critical moment when Christ arrives for the judgment of the holy place.

End of part two…

July (2013) Watchtower Review for Jehovah's Witnesses pt 1

MP3 download  At the 2012 annual meeting of the Watchtower Society the Governing Body announced yet another adjustment and clarification – a continuation of a long line of many such adjustments and clarifications. It was also announced at that October meeting that a future edition of the Watchtower Magazine would expound upon what Jehovah’s Witnesses generally believe to be new flashes of divine light. And the July issue of the study edition of the Watchtower is now available online.

In what sort of devious way does the Watchtower still teach that the great tribulation began in 1914?

Why is it disingenuous to imply that Jesus and the first century disciples did not consider the temple to be a holy place?

What did Jesus intend the reader of Daniel to discern as regards the desolation of the holy place?

The purpose of this series of articles on The Watchman’s Post is to hold the Watchtower’s prophetic interpretations up to critical scrutiny and to present before thinking Jehovah’s Witnesses the manifold contradictions presented therein.

Granted, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be deeply offended and refuse to consider the facts and others may become frightened at the mere suggestion the Governing Body could be in error to any significant degree, or worse – guilty of intentionally deceiving the trusting flock. But the day is fast approaching when all of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be rudely jolted into unavoidably confronting that very reality. I say, better now than later. Why wait until the time of mass hysteria and confusion, when calm, critical thinking and reflection may be impossible? As JF Rutherford famously said on the eve of the last world war: “Face the Facts!”

Face the facts, JF Rutherford discourse and booklet from 1938

The leading article, entitled: Tell us, When Will These Things Be? gives a brief summary of a few of the Society’s past erroneous views. To be sure, it is the abbreviated list. In the third paragraph they state:

For a number of years, we thought that the great tribulation began in 1914 with World War I and that “those days were cut short” by Jehovah in 1918 when the war ended so that the remnant would have the opportunity to preach the good news to all nations.

Truthfully, it was quite a number of years. The Watchtower first floated the idea that the great tribulation had been cut short back in 1925, which is when the 1914 invisible parousia doctrine was first beginning to take shape, and it was not until 1970 that the January 15th issue of the Watchtower overturned the teaching. So, for almost a half-century the Watchtower had taught that the great tribulation had commenced during World War I. That is “a number of years” indeed!

(Actually, it had been announced at the 1969 summer conventions and in the May 1st 1999, Watchtower the Society lauded Fred Franz for having personally given an “electrifying talk” dispelling the long-held error. Ironically, for decades Fred Franz was undoubtedly the foremost proponent of the fallacy he was praised for having refuted! Maddeningly, it is not uncommon for the Society to applaud itself for discarding nonsense it had once staunchly promoted as God’s truth, as this present article under consideration does too!)

But in a sleight-of-hand sort of way, which is also characteristic of the way in which the Society interprets prophecy, they still teach that the tribulation began during World War I – perhaps even unwittingly. How so?

First, consider the sixth chapter of Revelation. As Jehovah’s Witnesses know, the opening of the first four seals coincides with the events that Jesus foretold would accompany his presence and mark the beginning of the conclusion of the system of things. The opening of the sixth seal symbolizes the earth-rocking convulsions of the great tribulation. It reads: “And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the entire moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind casts its unripe figs. And the heaven departed as a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and every island were removed from their places.”

The symbolism associated with the opening of the sixth seal precisely parallels what Jesus himself said, namely: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

In his saying “immediately after the tribulation of those days” Jesus may not have been referring to the great tribulation, but rather to the tribulation associated with nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom – denoting global war. Because, surely, the crash of figurative mountains and the darkening of the symbolic heavens denotes the terror and hopelessness that will engulf the world during the day of Jehovah.

Jesus Christ unsealing the seals of the scroll containing Jehovah's judgments is a unique and profound event

Nonetheless, in their commentary on Revelation the Governing Body realizes that the seals of the symbolic scroll containing Jehovah’s judgments are unsealed in rapid succession, or in other words – “immediately.” Because of their insistence that the opening of all seven of the seals commenced in 1914 and was completed in that time-frame, the Society is forced to fabricate an explanation as to why – if the sixth seal was opened back during World War I – that, the great tribulation still has not ensued. To address this gaping contradiction the oracle of Bethel has come up with the cockamamie notion that the great upheaval of the First World War was just the preliminary “temblors” of the big one that is yet to rock the world.

Presumably, the symbolic sun was partially darkened back then too, somehow; and a few of the figurative stars must have been preliminarily shaken from the political firmament, and the symbolic moon over the earth must have also given a preliminary preview of its coming total eclipse sometime back in 1917 too.

Excuse the sarcasm, but as one of Jehovah’s s Witnesses, this is presumably what you are required to believe, because, incredibly, that is what the Watchtower actually teaches!

But does not this synthetic explanation trivialize the momentous opening of the sacred seals and make an absolute mockery of the earthshaking events associated with the apocalypse and the great tribulation?

Even more contradictory, although they say the events associated with the sixth seal have not come about yet, even though the seal has supposedly been unsealed for almost a century now, the judgments of the climatic seventh seal have already come about – supposedly, in the form of long-forgotten convention resolutions and grandiose denunciations of Satan's world delivered by JF Rutherford back in the 1920s!

No doubt a sizable number of Jehovah’s Witnesses surely realize the Society’s interpretation is utterly absurd, but out of respect for "the slave" or fear of reprisal by the elders, they pretend to accept it. But if the Society is going to trumpet their latest clarification shouldn’t they begin by “clarifying” the interpretive claptrap they have published regarding Revelation?

In paragraphs 5 & 6 the Society states:

We also discerned that the first part of the great tribulation did not begin in 1914.  Why  not?  Because Bible prophecy reveals that the great tribulation will start, not with a war among nations, but with an attack on false religion…. In the first fulfillment, the  “standing in a holy place” occurred in 66 C.E. when the Roman army (“the disgusting thing”) attacked Jerusalem and its temple (a place holy in the eyes of the Jews). In the larger fulfillment, the “standing” will occur when the United Nations (the modern-day “disgusting thing”) attacks Christendom  (which is holy in the eyes of nominal Christians) and the rest of Babylon the Great. The same attack is described at Revelation 17:16-18. That event will be the beginning of the great tribulation.

Falsehoods can be very powerful. If repeated often enough and with sufficient authority by a credible source, mere lies can magically transform themselves into unquestioned truth in the human mind. It happens all the time. That is especially so with religious dogma. The clergy, for example, repeat like a chant, over and over, that God is three-in-one – a mysterious Trinity. And multitudes accept and believe it without ever questioning it.

But the same principle holds true for Jehovah's Witnesses when it comes to matters pertaining to prophecy. Over and over again the Governing Body proclaims such things as Christ returned in 1914; the scarlet-colored beast arose from the abyss in 1945 in the form of the United Nations Organization and the great tribulation begins when the United Nations will attack Christendom. And the “holy place” of Jesus’ prophecy, which is destined for desolation, is Christendom. And so it goes – on and on – looping over and over, again and again.

It is noteworthy that in the very prophecy of Christ the Watchtower presumes to explain – regarding the disgusting thing standing in a holy place – Jesus urged the reader to have discernment and consult the prophecy of Daniel, intimating that the truth may not be so readily apparent, but which, can only be discerned by an understanding of Daniel. And although the article quoted Jesus’ reference to Daniel, they make no attempt to shed any light upon what Jesus may have intended the reader to discern.

Also, let the discerning reader take note of the fact that despite the Watchtower’s hackneyed reference to the 17th chapter of Revelation as proof, there is nothing in that context that mentions the great tribulation or that could be used to prove the contention that the tribulation begins when the beast devours the harlot! Apparently, the Society is resorting to employing the power of suggestion.

For a fact, it can be proven that the eighth king – hence, the last king of Bible prophecy – has not come on the scene yet. His very arrival will come after the system crashes, and from that tumult will arise the scarlet-colored beast, also known as the eighth king and the king fierce in countenance; the truth of which I have presented in numerous articles and videos on this site and do not intend to rehash here. Ironically, the eighth king may well prove to be the UN, but it will then possess much more authority and power. (See articles: Testing the Watchtower’s “Inspired Expressions” and Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mark of the Beast and An Eighth King and video )

Commenting at the kingdom hall

While Jehovah’s Witnesses have been conditioned to suppose that their only obligation in this matter is to underline the correct question in the study article and if they are especially dutiful, to raise their hand and volunteer a comment, parroting the Watchtower’s statement from the paragraph – in their own words, of course – the apostle John advised all Christians not to believe every inspired expression; but to test the expression to see if it actually originates with God. Following the wise apostle’s exhortation, let us now put Bethel’s “inspired expression” to the test.

Did Jesus and the apostles consider the temple to be holy?

Before considering the prophecy of Daniel please take note of the parenthetical interjections in the paragraph quoted above; for example, the paragraph states that Jerusalem and the temple were (a place holy in the eyes of the Jews.) And further down in another parenthetical statement they say that Christendom is holy in the eyes of nominal Christians. But I exhort you to examine the Watchtower’s statement more closely. The question is, did the Lord Jesus intend for his reference to Jerusalem and the holy place to represent something in the grander fulfillment that is actually unholy in the eyes of God’s people?

Please consider the fact that neither Jesus nor the first century Jewish Christians considered Jerusalem or the temple as something unholy to God. On the contrary, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing that the city where Jehovah had originally placed his holy name was going to be utterly destroyed. And Jesus twice ferociously cleared the money-changers out of his Father’s house.

Keep in mind that the reason the apostles asked Jesus the question: “Tell us, when will these things be”? is because they were astonished when Jesus had earlier told them that Jerusalem would be abandoned to the Jews and that the temple would be thrown down without a stone remaining standing upon a stone. It is apparent, though, that the apostles continued to regard Jerusalem and the temple to be holy up until the very time the desolator stood in the holy place.

Why, from the very beginning of Christianity the apostles are said to have been in constant attendance at the temple, preaching Christ every day within its walls. In the 5th chapter of Acts an angel even commanded Peter to go take his stand in the temple courtyard and preach. After Saul’s conversion the 22nd chapter of Acts relates how Paul was in the temple praying when he fell into a trance and Jesus directed him to leave the city and embark on is missionary tour. And some years later upon his return to Jerusalem, in his defense against the charge that he was fomenting an apostasy against Moses, Paul explained to his accusers in the 24th chapter of Acts that he had again gone up to the temple in order to worship. Ask yourself: Would Paul have gone into a temple of Zeus to worship?

Of note, the Bible writer Matthew, whom the Watchtower states composed his gospel nearly a decade into the Christian era, twice referred to Jerusalem as “the holy city.” And Jerusalem itself became the unofficial headquarters of the apostles and older men who served as the first century governing body. It was for the very reason that the Christianized Jews viewed Jerusalem and the temple as something holy that Paul emphasized in his letter to the Hebrews that the things having to do with the law and the temple were merely a shadow of greater spiritual realities. And that they did not have with Jerusalem a city that remains, but they were actually citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. (See articles: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Jerusalem and The Astonishing Desolation to Come)

No doubt it was a great test of faith for the Jewish Christians to suddenly pull up roots and to leave everything behind when the disgusting thing came to stand in the place they regarded as holy. Perhaps some even failed the test.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are thoroughly familiar with these indisputable facts, as is their Governing Body. That being the case, is it really honest to imply that Jerusalem and its temple were only holy in the eyes of the faithless Jews who had rejected Christ; thereby, implying that the Jewish Christians did not also consider the temple to be a holy place? Of course, the reason for doing such is to present Christendom as the antitypical “holy place” destined for desolation. But is that what Christ had in mind?

Now consider the book of Daniel. There are several references to the disgusting thing that are pertinent. In the ninth chapter of Daniel the angel Gabriel explained that after Messiah had been cut off what had been decided upon was desolation, which would come upon the wing of disgusting things. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that that aspect of the prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled in the first century.

"Let the reader use discernment"

But in the grander fulfillment Daniel speaks of another disgusting thing that would come on the scene and bring desolation to a holy place.

The Watchtower attributes all prophecy in Daniel to times past

In the long-running prophecy of the kings of the north and south, we read in Daniel 11:31: “And there will be arms that will stand up, proceeding from him; and they will actually profane the sanctuary, the fortress, and remove the constant feature. And they will certainly put in place the disgusting thing that is causing desolation.”

And finally, in the concluding verses of the prophecy of Daniel, we read: “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and there has been a placing of the disgusting thing that is causing desolation, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy is the one who is keeping in expectation and who arrives at the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!”

In both instances the placing of the disgusting thing that is causing desolation is in reference to the constant feature  and sanctuary. Obviously, the prophecy has reference to the profanation of something that is holy to Jehovah. And to be sure, the eighth chapter of Daniel depicts a king fierce in countenance doing the exact same thing and the angels call it “the holy place.” For your convenience Daniel 8:13 states: “How long will the vision be of the constant feature and of the transgression causing desolation, to make both the holy place and the army things to trample on?”

So, there are three instances in the book of Daniel the place holy to God is desolated by a singular entity. And, of course, the 11th chapter of Revelation similarly portrays the holy city and the temple courtyard being trampled upon by the nations for a specified period. In all of these instances the Watchtower Society attributes them to the persecution that came upon the International Bible Students during World War I or upon Jehovah’s Witnesses during WWII. (See article: And There Will Stand Up a King Fierce in Countenance)

But when it comes to the holy place that is to be profaned by a disgusting thing in Jesus’ prophecy, in which Jesus specifically referred the reader to the prophecy of Daniel, the Watchtower makes no such connection. This is obviously an intentional deception, which Jehovah's Witnesses are unable to see through at present.

Amazingly, the Governing Body’s deception is, itself, a matter of prophecy and the focus of much of my work as a watchman of Jehovah.

See the articles: The Coming of Christ and the Flash Flood and Let the Reader Use Discernment and What Is the Great Tribulation and the Holy Place?

End of part one