WT Review

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)

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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.

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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.

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.”

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.

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 the previous article the Watchtower’s teaching regarding the beast of Revelation having already received the death-stroke was put to the test and demonstrated to be untrue. This blog entry more closely scrutinizes the brief comments from the September 15th, 2012, Watchtower, and Jehovah's Witnesses belief that the holy place destined for desolation is Babylon the great.

In accord with the wise apostle’s exhortation, again, let us put this “inspired expression” to the test. Here is an excerpt from paragraph five of the leading article:

What yet unseen event will take place next? Paul stated: “Whenever it is that they are saying: ‘Peace and security!’ then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them.” The first phase of this “sudden destruction” is the attack against “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, also known as “the harlot.” (Rev. 17:5, 6, 15) That attack against all forms of false religion, including Christendom, is the start of the “great tribulation.” (Matt. 24:21; 2 Thess. 2:8)

The article merely cites Matthew 24:21, the context of which says: “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house; and let the man in the field not return to the house to pick up his outer garment. Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day; for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.”

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Whenever they are saying "peace and security."“Earthshaking events will soon occur,” states the opening words of the September 15, 2012, Watchtower study edition. The article enumerates several developments that Jehovah Witnesses expect to occur in the near future. What are they, exactly?

Number one, the beginning of the day of Jehovah, which, as Paul foretold, will arrive as unexpectedly as a sneaking thief in the night – “whenever it is they are saying ‘peace and security.’”

The Watchtower surmises, that, included among the “they” who will be saying “peace and security” are the clergy, and then “they” will experience the foretold “sudden destruction.” The reasoning behind that is the belief that the day of Jehovah begins with the great tribulation and the tribulation will begin when the United Nations will suddenly, violently, eradicate organized religion throughout the entire world. For many decades Jehovah’s Witnesses have been in a state of expectation of this event as the next major fulfillment of prophecy. The article continues:

The October 15th, 2011, study edition of the Watchtower Magazine carries the leading article, entitled: Keep on the Watch - Why So Important?

As all of Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, it is vitally important to be ready for the coming of the day of Jehovah, or the day of the Lord as it is alternatively termed, even as on several occasions Jesus Christ exhorted his followers to stay on the watch and keep ready. But ready for what, exactly? 

The May 1st, 2011, issue of the Watchtower Magazine for the public carries an article entitled Six Bible Prophecies You Are Seeing Fulfilled.

What are they? The six are: Earthquakes, famines, disease, lack of love, ruination of the earth and a global preaching work.

First, it must be pointed out that earthquakes, famines and disease are not separate, individual prophecies. They are simply different features that make up one complete sign – the sign of Christ’s presence and the conclusion of the system. Jehovah’s Witnesses are, of course, well aware of this fact, because that is what the Watchtower Society teaches. Evidently, though, the public version of the magazine is less straightforward.