The WT Leaving NYC?...Not So Fast
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 6:12AM
In 1908 Charles Taze Russell and associates relocated the headquarters of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to Brooklyn, New York, from Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The reason behind the move was to give the Society greater visibility. At the time, Russell’s sermons were appearing in ever-increasing numbers of newspapers all over the country. It was once said that Russell had a bigger readership than all of the clergy, combined. So, the move to Brooklyn, the so-called City of Churches then, was undertaken to give the source of the message a more prestigious profile. It seemed like a wise decision. Ever since then the Watchtower’s facilities have been recognizable landmarks to the millions of people living and working in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, as well as the constant flow of travelers on ferries and those crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
For years one sign on a Watchtower building reminded New Yorkers and visitors that Jehovah is God. More recent signage on a facility exhorts: Read God’s Word the Bible Daily and Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom.
Now, after being a fixture in Brooklyn for more than a century, the Watchtower is pulling out – moving its headquarters to Warwick, New York. The project, though, will evidently take several years to complete. But the Watchtower has already relocated an educational facility away from Brooklyn, in Patterson, New York. So, apparently this move has been planned for quite some time. Perhaps the terror attack on the World Trade Center towers across the East River spooked them.
Whatever the reason, be it financial considerations or security, having a core of seasoned ministers and a visible monument to the name of Jehovah in one of the most populous and important cities in the world no longer seems to be important to the Watchtower Society’s board of directors.
To those who do not attach any special importance to God’s distinctive name, the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses may not seem very relevant to their personal lives, but it has always been God’s purpose to have his name declared throughout the world by his witnesses, as a prelude to the nations being forced to know that “I am Jehovah” – as the prophecy of Ezekiel forewarns in numerous passages.
Above all else, publicizing the name of God has been the Watchtower’s primary mission since it was established – especially since the International Bible Students adopted the peculiar and provocative name of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1931. To date the Watchtower Bible Society is currently publishing the name of Jehovah, in all its many linguistic variations, in nearly 400 languages.
But the question posed here is this: Will the Watchtower complete its planned pullout of the New York City area? Based upon my unique understanding of prophecy, the answer is no.
In the work Jehovah Himself Has Become King the case has been presented that “Egypt” of prophecy foreshadows the United States of America (See chapter Downfall of America). That “Egypt” has a prophetic value unrelated to the ancient or modern nation of Egypt is evidenced by the fact that in the 11th chapter of Revelation “Egypt” is used in a “spiritual sense,” as the place where Jesus had been impaled. Also, in the concluding episode of the long-running conflict between the king of the north and south “Egypt” is subjugated by the king of the north during “the time of the end.”
From God’s standpoint there has been an imperial, political system continuously in existence dating from the time Egypt first became a great nation. According to Revelation the world has been dominated, and especially God’s people, by a monstrous wild beast with seven heads, each head representing a consecutively ruling empire. Since Egypt was the first ruling head according to Bible history, and it was also the first identifiable entity in the position of the King of the South in the prophecy of Daniel, Egypt is a fitting symbol for whatever power is ruling. According to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah it is especially fitting for the American world power.
In the 19th chapter of Isaiah Egypt is similarly portrayed as coming under the domination of a hard master. Originally Egypt was dominated by Assyria. Oddly, though, Jehovah blesses the Egyptians and in the 25th verse he refers to them as “my people.” The prophecy also relates that the Egyptians will render sacrifices to Jehovah. Isaiah 19:21-22 states: “And Jehovah will certainly become known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians must know Jehovah in that day, and they must render sacrifice and gift and must make a vow to Jehovah and pay it. And Jehovah will certainly deal Egypt a blow. There will be a dealing of a blow and a healing; and they must return to Jehovah, and he must let himself be entreated by them and must heal them.”
Another indication that the prophecy does not merely apply to the ancient land of the Nile is what is stated at Isaiah 19:19-20: “In that day there will prove to be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Jehovah beside its boundary. And it must prove to be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry out to Jehovah because of the oppressors, and he will send them a savior, even a grand one, who will actually deliver them.”
Apparently there were Jewish settlements in Egypt at the time the ascending second world power, Assyria, subjugated Egypt. Still, God did not send a grand savior to rescue the Jews from oppression. The language of prophecy indicates that the grand one, the savior who would deliver God’s people, is none other than Jesus Christ. Truly, all prophecy, in one way or another, illuminates the mission of Christ.
From the time that Abraham first entered the land of Canaan he built several crude stone altars to the name of Jehovah. His son Isaac and his grandson, Jacob, also built altars dedicated to Jehovah. Moses also built an altar to commemorate the defeat of Amalek – calling it Jehovah-Nissi.
Jehovah’s Witnesses today worship and serve the same God as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, as well as Moses. In that respect it is as if the Watchtower Society, including its publicly visible infrastructure devoted to the worship of Jehovah, stand as a monument and altar to the name of Jehovah – as the scripture states: “it must prove to be for a sign and for a witness to Jehovah of armies in the land of Egypt”
In what sense are the Egyptians God’s people? The concluding verses of the 19th chapter state: “In that day there will come to be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will actually come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria; and they will certainly render service, Egypt with Assyria. In that day Israel will come to be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, namely, a blessing in the midst of the earth, because Jehovah of armies will have blessed it, saying: ‘Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my inheritance, Israel.’”
Although the nations are under the authority of Satan the Devil, ultimately God’s purpose is served by them. How is Assyria the work of God’s hands, as the scripture says? Assyria serves the same purpose as Babylon did, which Jehovah described as his forge hammer for smashing the nations. The Assyrian Empire typifies the last king – the eighth king. The last Kingdom springs from the seven previous world powers, particularly the Anglo-American dual world power. Jehovah will use the last king to dispose of the iniquitous harlot of Babylon. In that respect Assyria will render service to God and will prove to be a blessing to all of God’s people by destroying the false religious system known as Babylon the great. Keep in mind that the historical Assyria boasted to king Hezekiah that none of the gods of the nations were able to save their devotees from being subjugated.
Just as during the Exodus a vast mixed company of Egyptians and others threw in their lot with God’s people, the Israelites. Although not descendents of Abraham, the Egyptians and others making up the vast mixed company that came out of Egypt became God’s people.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been derogatorily described as an American religion. This is not true. However, obviously, Jehovah’s Witnesses got their start in America. America, after all, was originally settled by pilgrims and Puritans fleeing religious persecution. As an outgrowth of that experience, tolerance and religious freedom were principles that were written in to the Constitution of the United States. So, the much hated and often persecuted witnesses of Jehovah have until now flourished in America.
America has been described as a melting pot. The people of America – excepting the aboriginal tribes – are not a race unto themselves. Although of predominantly European extraction, Americans are a blend of many ethnic and racial groups. In relation to the anointed Israel of God the modern-day “Egyptians” resemble the vast mixed company during the Exodus.
But as regards the topic at hand (the Watchtower’s intended exodus from Brooklyn), consider, now, Isaiah 19:18: “In that day there will prove to be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing to Jehovah of armies. The City of Tearing Down will one city be called.”
Since the time the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan the language of the land of Canaan became Hebrew. The third chapter of the prophecy of Zephaniah foretells that during the period of judgment God will give his spiritual nation a change to a pure language – the pure language being the language of uncontaminated truth.
But what may be symbolized by the City of Tearing Down? Since America broke away from the Crown of England it has been the intent of the British Empire to reacquire control of the United States through subversion and ultimately tear down the entire nation-state system and revert to a corporate-controlled, feudalistic system. The trend in recent decades has been to weaken national sovereignties through the mechanism of globalism with the ultimate intent of creating a world government.
The United Nations stands as a Trojan horse, ready to come to power in the last hour. So, the City of Tearing Down is New York City. Not only is it home of the United Nations Organization, but Manhattan is also home to Wall Street, and it is no secret that the big investment banks and related hedge funds are also busily tearing down the nation, bankrupting it, by offloading trillions of dollars of fictitious debt onto the taxpayer. When the inevitable crash occurs it will spell the end of America and the religious and civil liberties the citizenry have come to take for granted.
Since the City of Tearing Down is also where those are found "swearing to Jehovah of armies” during the time that Egypt is delivered up to a hard master, it would seem that the present system is destined to be torn down before the Watchtower can remove the landmark altar to Jehovah from the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Reader Comments (25)
Excellent article Watchman!
Yes I agree excellent article; Bible truth has a rhythm, interconnected making sense to are god given logic! I find the preceding comments on bible prophecy very refreshing and faith strengthening!
Thanks Robert for sharing your determined convictions!
Jah’s blessings!
In biblical times it is interesting to note that Jehovah allowed the Assyrian to destroy the hostile ten northern tribes of Israel, but he did not allowed them to conquer the southern two tribes, Benjamin and Judah. For one thing God’s name resided in Jerusalem, the capital city of the southern two tribes.
However, because of Jerusalem’s continued bout with apostasy and defiance of the true God, Jehovah later raised the Babylonian empire to destroy Jerusalem, sending the Jews into exile to Babylon for seventy years as prophesied. Thus as was the case with Babylon, we may also view Assyria as God’s forge hammer for executing judgment against his rebellious people. Similarly, God used Rome when the rebuilt city and temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.
A similar work of denunciation is scheduled for our time against antitypical Jerusalem and the entire present wicked system of things. However, how is it that Assyria is portrayed as the 8th king at the time of the end if historically Assyria never defeated Judah and Jerusalem?
The answer lies in the fact that Assyria and Babylon are Mesopotamian in origin. We recall that this is the region where Nimrod began a building project in opposition to Jehovah. Nimrod is long dead. However, God has not yet settle account with the deified Nimrod, who is really Satan working behind the scenes, scheming to gain total control over mankind.
Much control or authority will be given him for forty-two months as shown in the 13th chapter of Revelation. He will then proceed to create an image of the beast, a tyrannical global world empire, shortly before the Second Coming of Christ. However, this time around it will not be a matter of confusing the tongues of mankind so as to disperse them all over the surface of the earth. –Zec 14:13; Da 11:44; Re 16:12-14.
So more than likely any move of the Watchtower to relocate outside of Brooklyn will not in any way shape or form affect the outcome of prophecy in regards to the judgment to come first upon God’s own house. (1 Peter 4:17) That is because God’s temple or house has to do with the “circumcision of the heart, by spirit.” –Ro 2:29
Good information Richard! Now, I guess we will see what and how things happen as the New World Order continues to march.
Thanks Robert - I always look forward to reading these articles of yours. I understand what you mean by the watchtower not being able to move before the end of America (as we know it) - if the move is going to take several years - that's just too long. The financial system can't have much time left, maybe a year or two at the most. One point of interest, is that the Watchtower has already moved the printing operation away from New York.
Watchman,
The WT edifice, no matter how defined or where located, from the ghettoes of Brooklyn and Patterson, to the tentacles of WT owned and controlled local franchises, called Kingdom Halls spanning the globe, to brand domains in Cyber land and legal entities in Pharisee Fiction land, it all stands as a pillar for the 'god' that has been ruling and subduing the world invisibly behind the scenes since 1914, and is in no way associated with YHWH or his Son, who is to start his rule visibly, coming on the clouds of heaven for all to see.
The callous murder of over a 100 million people during the previous century, are staggering testimony to the WT-king having received his active ruler ship in kingdom power in 1914! As a corollary to his previous, now nearly 100 years in office as ruler under the god of this world, his kingdom is about to replace the present evil system of sovereign nation states, with the result that all the world will follow it with admiration and worship this disgusting counterfeit kingdom as preached by the WT, that will soon take complete control over the whole world.
As it is written: Jehovah’s Witnesses will expel you from the synagogue, just like the Jews in the first century did, totally convinced that killing the holy ones counts as rendering sacred service to Jehovah, to be reported on their monthly service report to the WT.
Only after the New World WT-kingdom has control of the whole world, does the real Christ appear on the clouds of Heaven to judge and annihilate it completely, to be followed by the genuine 1000 year Parousia of Jesus.
As for the much vaunted kingdom preaching of the WT-inc, let its deluded followers take note that it is not referring to the COMING kingdom of God, but to "the kingdom [that] HAS BEEN established [in 1914]!" (see Daily Text, 28.2.2010)
As for Egypt, Assyria and Israel becoming a blessing in the midst of the land, that will only come about AFTER Jesus comes on the clouds of heaven immediately AFTER the great tribulation, when "they will certainly war each one against his brother, and each one against his companion, city against city, kingdom against kingdom," as they beat themselves in grief at seeing Jesus in power and glory, and realizing they have been tricked into following the wrong christ of 1914, as preached by the WT.
Then, those REMAINING OVER OUT OF ALL the nations that are coming against Christianity, must go up from year to year to bow down to the King, YHWH of armies. And if the family of Egypt does not actually comply, there will be no blessing upon them.
However, the NWO handlers of the WT and its current gaggle of sock puppets, will certainly bring about a pre-emptive fulfilment of the biblical timeline and sequence of events, twisting the scriptures into premature applications, as done before with the precipitation of the first world war to mimic the fulfilment of the demon-inspired prophecy of the "appointed times of the Gentiles" ending in 1914, for example.
As times heat up, we are sure to hear more pseudo-biblical bombast about America, the UN, the WT or the Talmudic NWO 'Democracy and Rule of Law' being "a blessing" in all the land, to befuddle if possible even the chosen ones. Already the WT is on record in saying that the high- treason-UN is just another 'minister of God for our good' to be prayed for and to be advertised world-wide as having lofty and commendable goals and programs.
God's purpose to have his name declared throughout the world - for them to know that I am YHWH - will not be accomplished through the apostate WT-corporation, but through Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven in power and glory immediately after the end of the great tribulation, when he comes to destroy the ulcerated beast-worshippers including all idolatrous JWs.
Just as the divine pronouncement says: The name of God is being blasphemed on account of JWs among the nations, down to this day. Even the most insignificant Church of maligned Christendom knows that Christ's second coming is still future, and that the invisible 1914 WT parousia is a demonic scam, to mislead mankind and misrepresent God's word.
Precisely because the WT-scam is so close to the truth, has it succeeded in misleading all but the very elect, just like a clever forgery of a banknote, that its deluded purveyors circulate among the people. And when the flaws are pointed out to them, the JW-shills say, well, yes, but it is the CLOSEST THING to the real truth. Out of your own mouth I judge you, for not loving the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Adroitly straining out the gnats of Christendom’s false doctrines, they greedily gulp down veritable camels of WT lies. Well, I guess, to each one their own lies.
Dear Proxygnosis!
The depth of your words are inspiring, additionally they make sense which make them unnerving forcing me to consider yet one more piece of the puzzle of puzzles.
--- Jesus once told his apostles that he had many things to tell them but that they were unable to bear the (burden) at that time. No doubt the future unveiling of Christ will mean that he will fully reveal all the things his followers must suffer, including the correct understanding of all the prophets. Interestingly several translations of the first verse of Habakkuk prophecy call it: “The (burden) that Habakkuk hath seen” instead of “The pronouncement that Habakkuk the prophet visioned” --- Quote “Jehovah Himself has become King” page 304-305
Watchman,
you write: "The third chapter of the prophecy of Zephaniah foretells that during the period of judgment God will give his spiritual nation a change to a pure language – the pure language being the language of uncontaminated truth."
I assume you apply that prophecy to the WT, as if to account for their many lies. And, in a way, though not limited to them, that is actually true. Except for your TIMING of the change to a pure language, which according to Zephaniah, only happens AFTER God pours out his denunciation, all his burning anger, upon the nations of ALL THE EARTH, that is, AFTER Armageddon!
For THEN he shall give to peoples the change to a pure language, not before, or during the great tribulation as you think. Or do you imagine that the Body of Christ is 'the oppressive city,' rebelling and polluting herself? And the Head of the body, Jesus Christ stands idly by, and abdicates his headship to such scum?
The Body of Christ is described as a chaste virgin, safeguarded by the Holy Spirit, so that the wicked one has no hold on it, and no falsehood was found in their mouths, they are without blemish. Contrast that with the description in Zep. 3, roaring lions, insolent, profane, violent, haughtily exultant, liars, tricky tongued, etc. do you think that is also describing the Body of Christ?
Will the Body of Christ perhaps also be enlightened AFTER Armageddon, along with all the people who survive? No, indeed! Truly anointed ones, unlike the WT-anointed and their peers, the Born-Agains, are enlightened with Holy Spirit here and now, and do not share in fellowship with those who teach or condone profound lies about God and his Kingdom. They keep themselves clean from all such spiritual defilement.
How, then, can we explain these two types of contrasting scriptures, since they clearly are not compatible with each other? The answer is quite simple, God has actually TWO people; one could be called his NOMINAL people or Church, comprised of all those professing to be Christians including JWs, and the other is the true Body of Christ, the invisible Church, as it were, a bit like the 7000 that even Elijah apparently did not know about.
This view also explains the dual usage of 'Jerusalem' in scripture. It is corrupt and needs annihilating with only a few survivors, and yet it will be rebuilt to a holy condition, so that at the end of the 1000 years it is again called the holy city.
Therefore Jerusalem pictures Christianity, "a holy place," as it were. At the start of the great tribulation it will be surrounded and trampled upon by the beast, but the Body of Christ will succeed in escaping God's judgment on Jerusalem, as it is clearly not directed against the chosen ones, led by His Spirit. Of course, they will also be persecuted, but are clearly not under the wrath of God.
So anybody being anointed while associated with the WT or any other Church, cannot help but speak out against the lies and deception, and rather face the consequences for speaking the truth than ducking under Satan's lies.
Proxygnosis - You are an idiot.
JT, thanks for the compliment, you are welcome to elaborate, if you are serious.
This is the main reason I read e-watchman.com. Gerat post.
The Watchtower teaches that the wild beast of Revelation 13:11 that ascends out of the earth is the Anglo-American World power; its two horns like a lamb indicating a partnership of these two political powers. This alliance is a work of deception from British imperialism that has been foisted upon the American Republic to destroy it from within.
However, the American Republic is still strong in its tenacity to fight for the preservation of its freedom as prescribed in the U.S. Constitution. Thus the pushing between the British imperial king of the north and the American king of the south continues relentlessly in a battlefield consisting of a struggle for world supremacy under two opposing economic and political systems.
The war that won the U.S. its independence did no end. It has merely changed in character and strategy. This problem is compounded by global societal problems that cannot be ignored, accounting for the push or pretext for world government or globalism.
Once this wild beast comes out the earth into full view it will have the power to create an “image” of the first wild beast. At which point the New World Order will have been fully established. These events cannot take place until the beast with seven heads first comes up out of the sea.
The key to understanding events that are shaping the world for this composite beast to make its appearance is summed up in Paul’s words: For you 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. –1Th 5:2-3.
It is not that the nations are going to achieve peace and security. They are likely going to bring about a catastrophic world war involving the use of weapons of mass destruction. People all over the world will be calling for peace and security during this time of global distress, which will mark the beginning of the great tribulation. Then the beast with seven heads (the empowerment of the UN) will come up out of the sea of confused humanity, as “men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”
This phrase is likely describing a third world war scenario that will destroy countless human lives and the world’s infrastructure. It is then that the first beast having seven heads will come up out of the sea, followed by the wild beast that comes out the earth, which goes on to make an image of the first beast, the New Word Order in its final form. Thus the nations will have mass up together as one against God and his anointed, shortly before the Second Coming of Christ.
Therefore, the wild beast that comes out of the earth is not the Anglo-American world power. It is none other than the original serpent, the dragon with seven heads, the 8th king of prophecy, the Assyrian, the king of the north, the king of fierce countenance, the man of lawlessness, the angel of the abyss and finally Abaddon and Apollyon. He is the destroyer that is tearing down the nations before he goes off into the abyss, and then the lake of fire into oblivion.
Claude,
interesting perspective there about the American Republic and the Empire, which is similar to Watchman's view. There certainly seem to be two competing ideologies in the world at large: 1) The conservative, independent nation state doctrine, and 2) the subversion of sovereignty, and treason against self determination of states, a one world government.
It is clear the latter system will come about and be victorious in the end. I find it hard though, at this early stage, to put a specific nation to either of the two sides, because EVERY nation is faced with the inevitable loss of its sovereignty, not just the US, but even the UK faces the same dilemma. Of course, in the end, one country, or an alliance or block of countries, could well stand for one side or the other.
It just seems too early at present to be so specific, because the UN, the elite of unrepresentative treasonous representatives of ALL nations making up the UN, are ironically still largely dependent on the nation states for finances and power. Once the UN gets its own independent funding, say through a global carbon tax, or similar guaranteed revenue stream, things can change quickly for the worse.
The other uncertainty about the Empire versus Republic paradigm are the 'money changers' who used to be based in individual nations states, with some sort of loyalty and commitment to their host countries. Nowadays, because their money is instantly sloshable to anywhere in the world, while not parked in some neutral tax heaven, as the quickest profits are made in playing one sovereign country against another, there is now no room left for patriotism.
So it currently serves the interests of the ideologically globalist 'money changers,' to keep on milking the present herd of nation states until they are dry, as they presently are doing to Greece and other EU countries, in order to crash the Euro. To understand the power of this small cabal, we have to realize that all nations states, including both the US and Britain, are in debt to the tune of hundreds of trillions of dollars, all owed to this small band of speculators, market manipulators and monopolisers.
They have created all market crashes, siphoned off all the money from the productive labour of the people of the whole world, and will finally return all the loot, to create the NWO for an act of worship to them, as the saviours of the world, god's chosen people.
Because of their stranglehold on money, they can turn any country or alliance into their NWO Empire, whether it be the US, EU, China, Russia, India, the UN or any combination of them. Technology, just like money, is instantly transferrable in today’s world that is why I would not predict any specific country to represent any entity in scripture at this early stage.
There are presently just too many variables: it would take at least a decade to milk India and China dry, unless the elite eugenicists decide on a shortcut to the NWO and throw a few more mutant strains at the plebs and useful idiots, like Aids and H1N1, or flying pig flu, for a change.
By the way, it is entirely possible that the antithesis of Empire versus Republic / Nation State System is also a manifestation of the 'if you create your own enemy, you are in total control' type of dialectic, as in 'right wing, left wing, SAME bird.' As an astute historian once remarked: The people who run 'capitalism' also run 'communism.' If you have, or aspire to, total power, you best manufacture your own opposition.
Revelation 13 is yet to happen, as you say, Claude. Satan will give his total authority and power to the beast, similar to what he offered Christ in the temptation. We can be sure that those given this authority will directly and knowingly worship Satan and be totally controlled by him like puppets. In return, they are given authority and rulership over EVERY nation on earth! The WT interpretation of this text raises only one question: What sort of spirit can the WT-anointed possibly be enlightened with? Or else: WHO has taken them out for lunch?
There is enough blame going around, the purpose of which serves the adversary's purpose to destroy mankind. The Watchtower, for example, has been in the business of applying unfavorable prophecies to Christendom or “unfaithful Jerusalem,” while applying the favorable ones to themselves.
They have gone as far as stating that Jesus has established them over all his belongings since 1919. These teachings have fueled the pride of Jehovah's Witnesses to the extent that they see their organization as the "narrow road" one must enter to gain eternal life. It has also led to its idolization by its members.
By these means and others the Watchtower has been gaining followers, accounting for its financial growth. True they do not pass the collection plates around as do the churches of Christendom. Nonetheless, their method of amassing wealth produces the desired result of putting the Watchtower Corporation among many top ranking companies. But where will this prideful attitude lead Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Already we are seeing the devastating effect of this prideful folly, as many witnesses have left the organization. However, the leadership of the Watchtower sees this as nothing more than a process of “sifting” people out as apostates. Thus this shows the height of arrogance the organization has attained. It is no wonder we are seeing “a cooling off of love” among a people that by all intents and purposes have lost their “first love” for Jehovah. We are thus becoming like “a sounding [piece of] brass or a clashing cymbal.”
This clashing as it where produces an annoying sound, as can be seen from people’s response to our door-to-door ministry. Thus people are aware of the witnesses’ tactic of proselytizing which consist of putting down other religious organizations, dubbing them as the whore of Babylon the Great, Christendom being the most reprehensible part of this so-called empire of false religion. What makes our cymbal so indistinct is that Babylon the Great as an empire in the biblical sense is yet to make its appearance on the world scene.
Since Nimrod’s failed project of Babel, Babylon and its vestiges have been scattered all over the world. Thus Babylon the Great is yet to solidify its powers as an empire to be reckoned with. This will happen during the great tribulation, as God will empower it for forty-two months during the judgment soon to come upon the entire inhabited earth, just as he empowered Nebuchadnezzar.
But why would God empower Babylon the Great? He will do so because the time for meting out justice will have been fully established. That is when his judgment must fall on the nations and those who are calling upon his name falsely.
E-Watchman has correctly ascertained that the wheat and weeds exist together within the organizational structure of the Watchtower and that Jesus will separate them during the final or concluding harvest.
However, they are also wheat and weeds throughout the realm of Christendom. In fact Jesus is going to find wheat-like and weed-like people everywhere. That is why all the nations are gathered before him when he comes in his glory to separate the sheep and goats. Therefore, it will not be a matter of religious membership that will save people, but how we treat the least ones of his “brothers.” But who are Jesus’ brothers?
The Watchtower would have us believe that 144,000 are destined to rule with Christ in his kingdom, sitting on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel during the millennium. Israel in this picture is represented by the great crowd that comes out of the great tribulation including those they believe will be resurrected during that time. However, is there something wrong with this picture?
Christ has properly identified his brothers when he said that “whoever does the will of [his] Father who is in heaven, the same is [his] brother, and sister, and mother.” Contrary to the Watchtower’s teaching on this matter, Jesus did not make any distinction as to who his brothers are, except that they do the will of his Father.
Why then has the Watchtower given special recognition to the “little flock” they believe will go to heaven? It is because it serves the purpose of the leadership of the Watchtower Society in its organizational form as a corporation. A corporation is defined as a legal entity that has a life of its own. Therefore, if the Society feels threatened, it will seek to protect its interest, even going against its own ideals. Has that happened?
A case in point is the not too recent out of court settlement on charges of child abuse brought against the Watchtower. For a straightforward biblical explanation of how the
Society has mishandled these cases see the chapter on Amos and Obadiah in the book Jehovah Himself Has Become King, available on this site for viewing and listening.
These least ones who have been “turned aside even in the gate” so as to receive no justice, are they not Christ’s brothers? --Amos 5:12-13.
Claude,
I take your point about the WT abusing their presumptive authority - though falsely based on Scripture - over the sheeple, by claiming to be the remnant of the 144000 seed of Abraham, just like the clergy of Christendom does to its devotees, though in all fairness, the sheeple are largely complicit in this conspiracy of false worship, sycophantically trying to prove their own righteousness, while ignoring the divine warnings of following false prophets to their own condemnation, while bypassing God's provision for attaining exoneration, thereby justly earning the label of God-botherers.
However, even though these abuses of Scripture are so prevalent and grievous, they do not furnish any excuse for throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. Just because THEY do not live up to the divine description of God's chosen ones, as those in whose mouth NO FALSEHOOD was found, that somehow God's purpose of having unblemished Kings and Priests ruling the world for a 1000 years is therefore also a lie!
Daniel 7 verse 27 clearly spells out that "all the ruler ships" and "kingdoms under all the heavens” WILL SERVE AND OBEY the real "holy ones," the "brothers" of Christ! This is what Christendom can't comprehend, showing that its born-agains are not involved in furnishing the holy ones, and the WT, although correctly understanding this part of the diving purpose, have excluded themselves by arrogantly pre-empting Christ's verdict in falsely representing themselves as having already been appointed as faithful slave over ALL of Christ's belongings, which is the WHOLE universe!
The NT is addressed exclusively to the "holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling," to whom God "has subjected the inhabited earth to come," that is, Christ's brothers who will rule as kings and priests for a 1000 years over those who dwell on the earth.
"But just as then, the one born in the manner of flesh began persecuting the one born in the manner of spirit, so also now. Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? 'Drive out the servant girl and her son, for BY NO MEANS shall the son of the servant girl be an heir with the son of the free woman."
Does that mean then that the servant girl and her children are rejected and doomed, as Christendom would have it, sent to hell, as it were? Never may that happen! But their time will come to be blessed by the Heirs of the promise during the 1000 years here on earth, to prove what they are made of.
Will they avail themselves of the benefit of Christ's sacrifice and his benevolent administration? All negative outward influences will be eliminated, so that their decision at the end of the 1000 years will be a true reflection of their very character, one way or the other. Happy are those imploring God to 'twist their arms' to drop off on the right side of the fence, so to speak, because they will be heard.
Proxygnosis,
It seems apparent that your umbilical cord is still attached to the Watchtower. The good news is God is not going to use any religious system to get people unattached to their doctrines during the tribulation. God has designed the tribulation to save as many people as possible. He is not going to be able to do that unless he first disconnects us from our “mother,” in our case, the Watchtower. –Ho 4:5; Isa 29:1-4, 13, 14, 18; 30: 20-21.
Claude,
your points are well taken. Although I probably know more about the WT than any other religion, I have never been attached to it. Anyhow, please consider that just as the WT, because of hating 'Christendom' - and for valid enough reasons I might add - opposing virtually every teaching espoused by them, failed to recognize that SOME of the Churches' teachings were actually scripturally sound, so you (we) might rashly discard bible teachings simply because the WT claims [though wrongly] to have originated them.
The simple fact is that ALL religions teach a certain amount of truth. It is up to the individual to pick through the lot and hang on to the ones that are scripturally sustainable, reverse engineering as it were, if one cannot get the whole truth out of the scriptures in the first place.
So let me put it to you: just ignore whether a certain truth is embraced by a certain religion or not, and concentrate on finding alternative interpretations to the scriptures I have provided to support what I have written, or else to consider that the conclusions I have reached might be true after all. In the end, it doesn't matter who is right, but WHAT is right, if truth be the ultimate goal, since it alone will set you free.
As far as the tribulation is concerned, and here I voice my own opinion, for what it's worth, I think that it is desirable to have a good mental grasp of what the scriptures say and what is really going on in the world, and how the two relate to each other, BUT, in the end, what is going to protect people from being deceived and accepting the mark of the beast has more to do with their heart-condition than with an intellectual grasp of reality.
People will always follow not what IS true, but what they WANT to be true. However, only those in whom both propositions coincide are capable of being saved. That's why it's so important to actively safeguard the heart against enticement by the spirit of 'truth augmentation' and 'reality enhancement,' so pervasive today.
proxygnosis,
May I respectfully ask how does your statement: "People will always follow not what IS true, but what they WANT to be true." ..apply to you? Or are you prevy to some special insight?
Proxygnosis
In the End brother we all must stand for Judgement. So I agree that we must be Awake and not caught napping. YHWH's truth is written in our hearts...unfortunately many mistake their hearts for what they have been taught to be true or what the Teachings have men say is truth.
I have tested the "Truth" according to the WT, and sadly they have been lead down and out of the Garden path. For this reason we must pray for the individuals who out of fear and ignorance do not know where they are going.
Personally I feel far too much time is spent on debating the "end of a System of things" instead of actively reaching out or giving our attention in prayer to the lost sheep.
Keep the comments coming Proxygnosis , I really enjoy them.
Wondering,
wondering is my favourite pastime, I wish more people would join us. The above quoted statement applies to me the same way it does to all other intelligent free moral agents. The mechanics of motivation underlying this phenomenon are hardwired into us by God for a beneficial purpose. It is just that the forces behind the present evil system have mastered the art of using this program against us.
That is why advertising is so successful, although, or perhaps, rather, BECAUSE everybody is in denial of that fact, since it is embarrassing to admit to be swayed by emotive suggestions against all practical sense. Inherited imperfection also has a lot to answer for.
So why not use this knowledge to our advantage. As we live humbly and in intellectual and spiritual honesty, the Father reveals to us what is true, and attaches our hearts to it. He who started a good work in us will also carry it to completion at the return of Jesus Christ.
As for any special insight, here is one for you, or rather, for everybody: If you don't STOP God from saving you, he WILL save you, I can personally vouch for that.
Apart from that, I, like Paul, have decided not to know anything except Jesus Christ, and him impaled, because carefully concealed in Him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.
Keep up the wondering, and you will find!
Hi Watchman:
I enjoyed your article. I too think that it will be the eighth king that will bring down the image and therefore they will be the stone "not cut by hands". Most see this stone as being the kingdom of God which then becomes a large mountain filling the whole earth. That will be so. The Kingdom will become a large mountain and fill the whole earth, but it will not be the Kingdom of God that brings down the image. The image will be brought down by the eighth king that will itself become a large mountain and fill the whole earth (NWO). It will be the eighth king represented symbolically by the "10 toes" of Nebuchadnezzar's image and likewise the 10 kings of Revelation 17:12-14. These (the eighth king, 10 toes and 10 Kings) are the ones that will do battle with the Lamb, but they will be defeated by the Kingdom of God and then the Kingdom will become the authority of the whole earth and not before. You are correct, the Watchtower will not be able to vacate New York City before this happens as it will be happening very, very soon.
In verse 44 of Daniel 2 it says "And in the days of "those kings" the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. This is not the Anglo American "Kings" (as they will already have been done away with by the eighth King) but the 10 Kings of Revelation, the collective number of Kings that will guide the eighth king in it's battle with the lamb. This is about to begin, perhaps as soon as tomorrow, who knows?
When it does, I think it will rock not only the nations to thier foundations but the Watchtower as well. The truths that have been hidden about the U.N. debacle and the Child Molestation fiasco and many other things will come to the surface in the wreckage, both literally and symbolically. It will be at this time that the "disgusting thing that causes desolation" will come out fully and will be the time for people who see it to head for the proverbial hills. The inside info that has been hidden for years will be revealed and the faithful will be able to flee from the grips of that evil harlot once and for all. This will be played out on a larger scale in the Mother of all the Harlots in the world in general as well.
Frank
Thankyou Watchman for your words that make me and many to think and search , and thankyou for allowing all of the wonderful comments. I like what proxygnosis says '' People will always follow not what IS true, but what they WANT to be true. However, only those in whom both propositions coincide are capable of being saved. That's why it's so important to actively safeguard the heart against enticement by the spirit of 'truth augmentation' and 'reality enhancement,' so pervasive today." I myself have spent much time on this , you know people can do many things to get emotions involved to twist and distort , and soforth , but if our hearts want only YHWH truths we will be on the side of Truth!
Proxygnosis said "That is why advertising is so successful, although, or perhaps, rather, BECAUSE everybody is in denial of that fact, since it is embarrassing to admit to be swayed by emotive suggestions against all practical sense. Inherited imperfection also has a lot to answer for."
Ruth: Yes playgirl magazines are known to sway the emotives of many men....because, therefor AND thusly, you should yell at the top of your lungs "Get behind me Satan!" whenever you come across one!
Watchman, I appreciate your comment about the Society's attempt to leave NYC. Men sometimes think they are in charge because they forget who really is running things. I know that the Society has made many mistakes because of imperfect men. We are even not sure if all on the Governing Body are of the Anointed, however, the true God reads the heart and he will protect his own. The building advertising his name will remain as long as He wills it to be there. I pray for our Christian brothers and sisters all the time, we all need to wake up and see reality and start to ask questions about what we are being taught. We all need to really read the Bible. It will come alive for us if we really ask for it to do so. We have to stop being too busy, let the true God feed us and share what we learn as you do.