Just imagine the wonderful privilege that the apostles had of personally associating with Jesus on a daily basis; traveling with him; being with him on social occasions and listening to him masterfully silence the Pharisees and other critics. What a privilege they had of being able to ask Jesus any question that they might have on their mind! When Jesus gave the most inspiring sermon ever given---the Sermon on the Mount---they were there. They were there when Jesus roused himself from sleep in the storm-tossed little fishing boat, and when he, with a mere word, instantly calmed the tempestuous wind and waves! When Jesus' very word would make the demons shiver in fright, open the ears of the deaf, give sight to the blind, and even wake the dead from their slumber; the apostles were at his side. They were eyewitnesses to so many amazing things that Christ said and did that John was later moved to write that he supposed that all the books in the world could not contain the detailed account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

The modern reader of the gospel accounts can't help but be struck by how unenlightened the apostles seemed to be at times in spite of having Jesus as their personal tutor. Yes, they had the privilege of speaking directly with Jesus, but as a reproof of their own partial knowledge, they also were on the receiving end of some very stern counsel when they spoke as though they had full knowledge and understanding of God's purpose and how it should be carried out.

Take for example, the fact that Jesus plainly spoke to the apostles on numerous occasions about his impending death and resurrection, yet they simply could not grasp what he was talking about. In the 16th chapter of Matthew, Jesus asked the apostles who they thought he was. Peter responded and said that Jesus was the Son of the living God, to which Jesus acknowledged that his Father was responsible for revealing that to them.

Shortly afterwards, it says: From that time forward Jesus Christ commenced showing his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things, and be killed, and on the third day be raised up. At that Peter took him aside and commenced rebuking him, saying: "Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this destiny at all."

How embarrassing for Peter to presume to counsel Jesus Christ in this matter, as if Jesus didn't know what he was talking about when he spoke of his impending death. As Christians living some 2,000 years after Christ, we recognize that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the very cornerstone of our faith, yet the question of interest to us has to do with how the apostles could have been so blind to the truth at that time. The answer to that question is most relevant to the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses today.

The reason the apostles just could not understand what Jesus was talking about when he spoke so plainly of his death and resurrection was because it was not Jehovah's Will that they understand at that time. Consider what Luke 9:43-45 states in this regard: Now as they were all marveling at all the things he was doing, he said to his disciples: "Give lodgment to these words in your ears, for the Son of man is destined to be delivered into the hands of men." But they continued without understanding of this saying. In fact it was concealed from them that they might not see through it, and they were afraid to question him about this saying.

There are two very important questions that we need to answer. First, why couldn't the apostles understand something that seems so simple and straightforward to us today?  Secondly, why did God apparently conceal this vital truth from the apostles when previously Jesus had commented that his Father had revealed to them that he was the Christ? What purpose was served by their enforced ignorance?

No doubt the primary reason that the apostles couldn't grasp what Jesus was talking about is because they had preconceived ideas based upon their limited knowledge of the prophecies that dealt with the Messiah. They understood that Jesus was to rule on David's throne in Jerusalem , and so it was impossible for them to comprehend that the heir to the throne of David was going to reign from a heavenly Jerusalem and not the literal city. All that the apostles knew was that Jesus was the heir and rightful king, and there he was---live and in person. That was all that mattered to them at the time. Since the Hebrew prophecies foretold that the king was going to reign forever and ever, the talk of Jesus' death and going away didn't make any sense to them. So, it was their own preconceived ideas of certain messianic prophecies in Scripture that blinded them to the real meaning of the prophecies pertaining to Jesus. Of course, after Jesus was resurrected he fully opened up their minds. Luke 24:27 says in this respect: "And commencing at Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted to them things pertaining to himself in all the Scriptures."

Eventually Jesus lifted the veil and fully opened up their minds to grasp the truth, but the question remains as to why Jesus didn't enlighten them before his death? After all, Jesus explained many of his illustrations to the disciples, so why were certain vital truths concealed from them until after Jesus died?

One reason had to do with the apostles' lack of faith. That's why in the preceding above-quoted verse Jesus rebuked them again, saying: "O senseless ones and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" Matthew 28:17 reveals that some of the apostles doubted even when they were in the very presence of their resurrected Lord!

It should be humbling to all Christians in view of the fact that Christ described his very closest disciples as being "senseless and slow in heart to believe on all the things the prophets spoke." Peter was one who was rebuked by Jesus more than any other disciple, and he later wrote at 1st Peter 1:7 about Christian's "being grieved by various trials, in order that the tested quality of your faith may be found a cause for praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." And Peter, along with his fellow apostles, certainly had their faith tested. In fact, Satan demanded that such a test be made of those whom Jehovah had chosen to rule the universe with Christ. That's why Jesus explained to Peter on the night of his betrayal and arrest that Satan had demanded to have the apostles to 'sift them as wheat.' Jesus reassured Peter, though, that he had supplicated Jehovah in their behalf in order that their faith may not give out.

So, the reason that Jehovah concealed the reality of the death of Christ from the otherwise enlightened apostles had to do with the great over-riding issue between God and Satan. With the establishment of Christianity, the quality of our faith and our enduring loyalty to God became the focus of the Accuser's accusations. In order to weigh in on God's side of the issue, every servant of God must face some sort of mind-jarring, faith-shaking experience that can only be surmounted by our abiding faith in Jehovah. The apostles had their faith tested when Jesus was violently taken from them, in that they had to quickly discard their misconceptions they had been indoctrinated with from Judaism regarding the Messiah. Would they reject the evidence of Christ's resurrection because it ran counter to what they had been taught? At first it was difficult for them to accept, but eventually they believed.

If Jehovah saw fit to allow the test of the faith of the original followers of Christ in such a manner, why should we suppose that we are somehow exempt from such tests, or that we will not doubt even after fulfillment? By reason of the very fact that Jehovah's Witnesses generally assume that we are more-or-less already enlightened; yet such presumptuousness should give us cause enough for concern. In the 11th chapter of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul referred to "this cocksureness peculiar to boasting." We, too, unwisely boast of speaking an exalted 'pure language of truth,' and of living in a 'spiritual paradise.' By our cocksure dogmatism we have made no allowance or possibility for any significant error in our interpretations of things. Even though the Watchtower on numerous occasions has acknowledged that the "faithful slave" is not inspired or infallible, we belie that claim by the importance we place upon Watchtower writings.  We have yet to learn the humbling lesson of the apostles. Indeed, just as it was inconceivable to the apostles that Jesus was meant to die according to prophecy, it is beyond our grasp that much of what we have been taught about prophecy is not going to be fulfilled in the way we have come to believe it will. What great tests of faith lie ahead!

 

"He has covered your heads, the visionaries"

Just as certain vital truths were concealed from the apostles, it has also suited Jehovah's purpose to allow a similar operation of error to have its work complete with the Israel of God up until the very time of judgment. Isaiah 29:10 reads: "For upon you men Jehovah has poured a spirit of deep sleep; and he closes your eyes, the prophets, and he has covered even your heads, the visionaries."

The context of the above verse has to do with Jehovah making things difficult for his servant Ariel, allowing him to suffer mourning and lamentation before rescuing him. Ariel is spiritual Israel as discussed in the essay on the Gentile times. The very fact that the Watchtower is oblivious to Jehovah's coming judgments is proof positive that it is our own leading men who fit the description as having their heads covered, instead of Christendom's clerics as some suppose.

The reason that God allows such a judgment is stated in the 13th verse, which reads: And Jehovah says: "For the reason that this people have come near with their mouth, and they have glorified me merely with their lips, and they have removed their heart itself far away from me, and their fear toward me becomes men's commandment that is being taught."

Only God can read the secrets of the human heart. And, rightly, only God can say what he finds is or isn't pleasing or according to his standard. It doesn't matter how we may judge ourselves: it is God's judgment that counts. Paul stated as much at 1 Corinthians 4:4: "For I am not conscious of anything against myself. Yet by this I am not proved righteous, but he that examines me is Jehovah."

Not only can God discern the secret recesses of our hearts, but also, even more amazingly, Jehovah is able to read hearts thousands of years before such hearts ever begin to beat! Actually, God knows that we humans follow a very predictable pattern, much like cows walking the beaten path back to their stalls. As an example of Jehovah's penetrating foresight, Jesus quoted the verse above and applied it to the Jews when he said: "You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said, 'This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me.'" The Jews corrupted God's law by turning it into mere human tradition. But, the point is that the Jews were God's people. They had been given his commandments, but God foresaw long in advance that their hearts would become hypocritical, and Christ could see such had already taken root by the time he arrived on the earthly scene, and applied the scripture appropriately.

Yet, as previously noted, the prophecy primarily applies to spiritual Israel , as Jesus merely applied the principle to the Pharisees of his day. The judgment applies most aptly to Jehovah's Witnesses today. How so? Well, who else glorifies Jehovah with their mouths? The clerics and parishioners of Christendom certainly have not honored the name of Jehovah. They refuse to even acknowledge that Jehovah is God. Instead they have made God's son the Almighty God. They have dishonored Jehovah with their nonsensical Trinity and other babylonish religious doctrines.

On the other hand, as Jehovah's Witnesses, we are quite vocal in publicizing the truth in our public ministry about Jehovah and his purposes. We glorify God with our public comments in our kingdom halls, by public talks, and in prayer. We have spoken the truth about Jehovah. Nevertheless, from Jehovah's vantagepoint he discerns that our fear of God has degenerated into following mere human commandments.

Who can deny that great emphasis is placed upon our closely adhering to organizational procedures and policies emanating from the Watchtower? Unquestionably, the Watchtower Society is the very heart and soul of the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. Equally undeniable is that Jehovah's Witnesses are more the agents and representatives of the Watchtower Society and less so the actual ministers of Jehovah. As ministers we are told what to say and how to say it.  The faithful slave determines each aspect of our faith in every detail so that, consequently, it is not at all unusual to hear Jehovah's Witnesses cite the authority of the 'Society,' as opposed to the authority of Jehovah God himself. Ironically, the 'Society' has even asked Jehovah's Witnesses not to say, 'the Society says...' From the standpoint of Jehovah's Witnesses, though, serving the interests of the Watchtower Society is serving Jehovah.

It is true that Paul counseled Christians to be obedient to those taking the lead among us, but he also was aware that, at least in the case of some Corinthian Christians, that they were mere followers of men. Some declared that they belonged to Paul, some to Peter, others Apollos, and some few claimed to be followers of Christ. In view of the dominate, all-imposing role that the Watchtower Society plays in the lives of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is not at all clear that Jehovah's Witnesses are devoted to Jehovah God and are not mere followers of men.

Probably very few of Jehovah's Witnesses would agree with such a harsh assessment of ourselves. But, as was true in Paul's case, neither are we 'conscious of anything against ourselves,' yet Jehovah is the one that examines us all. So, the question is: if this is Jehovah's actual judgment of us, what then is to be the end result? That is exactly what the remainder of the 29th chapter of Isaiah is about.

The 14th verse states that God "will act wonderfully again with this people, in a wonderful manner and with something wonderful; and the wisdom of their wise men must perish, and the very understanding of their discreet men will conceal itself."

If the above judgment applies to Christendom, then we must ask in what way might God act wonderfully with them? Isn't it considered a good thing if God acts toward someone in a "wonderful manner"? Since the entire context of Isaiah is describing how God brings about a restoration of heart for his people, we must conclude that the wise and discreet men whose wisdom perishes must be none other than the very faithful and discreet slave of Christ. That such is the case is evident from verses 15-16, which say: "Woe to those who are going very deep in concealing counsel from Jehovah himself, and whose deeds have occurred in a dark place, while they say: "Who is seeing us, and who is knowing of us?" The perversity of you men! Should the potter himself be accounted just like the clay? For should the thing made say respecting its maker: "He did not make me"? And does the very thing formed actually say respecting its former: "He showed no understanding"?

Paul quoted from the illustration of the potter and the clay and applied it to Christians in the 1st century who might foolishly question the way God operates toward his people to accomplish his purpose. Indeed, Jehovah God is the master Potter, the Maker and Former of the Israel of God for his own glory, and it is perversity on our part to question why it would suit God's purpose to bring hardship and confusion upon his own beloved spiritual organization.

"Those who are going very deep in concealing counsel from Jehovah himself" can only be those who are in a position to give Jehovah's counsel in the first place. Thus, Jehovah's pre-recorded rebuke seems to be directed toward those who have gone to great lengths to prop up the fictitious doctrine that Christ's presence began back in 1914 and that Jesus has already called his house to judgment, because that, more than anything else, has prevented us from grasping what lays before us. The Watchtower's illicit liaison with the United Nations Organization, the disastrous child abuse policy that has already resulted in out-of-court settlements with funds donated for the preaching work, gag orders on victims who have received what amounts to bribes, and who knows what other mischief-- all are deeds that have taken place in the dark, that Jehovah's judgment will eventually bring into the full light of day.

The hard lesson that we must yet learn is that God is the only source of truth and light. At Isaiah 29:4, where Jehovah cryptically describes Ariel as being brought low so that his voice speaks like a spirit medium as if from beyond the dead, God is foretelling that the voice of His servant will be muted. Since Jehovah's Witnesses have come to accept that the voice of God's spiritual nation is projected through the instrumentality of the Watchtower, Ariel's chirping from the dust can only mean that the Watchtower's voice will be silenced during the judgment. Yes, the very voice that has been translated into literally hundreds of languages and amplified around the earth, announcing Jehovah's kingdom, will at some point suddenly become little more than a faint whisper, muted by Jehovah's judgment against them.

What purpose could it possibly serve for Jehovah to lay waste to the only organization on earth that has served his interests? Hasn't the Watchtower instilled faith in millions of people? The answer is yes, but faith must be tested and proved by the fires of doubt and trial. What greater test of faith could be devised for Jehovah's Witnesses than to have the trusted Watchtower Society experience public humiliation and scandal and be silenced at the critical hour when the faithful turn to the organization for answers? Now may we better appreciate the somewhat disturbing question that Christ Jesus posed to us when he said: "Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

The good news is that Jesus will find the faith when he arrives. After a period of tumult, upheaval, and uncertainty accompanying the arrival of Christ for judgment, the end result is that Christ finds that some among his people are receptive to him. Isaiah 29:18 goes on to say: "And in that day the deaf ones will certainly hear the words of the book, and out of the gloom and out of the darkness even the eyes of the blind ones will see. And the meek ones will certainly increase their rejoicing in Jehovah himself, and even the poor ones of mankind will be joyful in the Holy one of Israel himself..."

The 29th chapter of Isaiah concludes with Jehovah taking over his organization and concluding our teaching. Jacob is given reassurance that his children, the other sheep, will live. The very last verse says: "And those erring in their spirit will actually get to know understanding, and even those who are grumbling will learn instruction." Certainly Jehovah is going to act wonderfully in correcting his people, not in correcting Christendom.

In the aftermath of Jehovah's judgment, the Watchtower will never again boast of providing God's people with nothing but the finest spiritual food. And no longer will Christians be kept in subjection through harsh tyranny and threat of expulsion for questioning unreasonable teachings. That's why the meek will rejoice, "because the tyrant must reach his end, and the bragger must come to his finish."

In view of the messy predicament that we have gotten ourselves into, the reproach that we have already brought upon the name of Jehovah, and the many thousands who have already been stumbled in their faith by such actions, how might we answer God when he poses this question to us, asking: "Who is blind, if not my servant, and who is deaf as the messenger whom I send? Who is blind as the one rewarded, or blind as the servant of Jehovah?" (Isaiah 42:19)

As Jehovah's messengers, as his servants, and as those rewarded by him, the answer that we must humbly reply:  'No one, Father. No one is as deaf as your own messengers are. No one is as blind as Jehovah's Witnesses!'

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Copyright © 2002, by Robert King
All Rights Reserved.