Sunday, October 5
They will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble.—Mic. 4:4.
In today’s world, adequate housing is a serious problem. People are packed into crowded cities. Many have to manage with makeshift dwellings in shantytowns and city slums. Having a house of their own remains a mere dream for them. Under Kingdom rule, the desire of every resident to have his own home will be fulfilled, for it was prophesied through Isaiah: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.” (Isa. 65:21) Yet, having a home of their own is not the only prospect. After all, some today live in their own home, a few even in a mansion or on a grand estate. But there is always the worry that the home can be lost through some financial reverses or that burglars—or worse—will break in. How different everything will be under Kingdom rule! w12 9/15 2:4, 5
Commentary
Yes, indeed: “How different everything will be under Kingdom rule!” But according to the Watchtower God’s Kingdom already rules. In fact, the latest publication released by the Society is entitled: God’s Kingdom Rules!
Obviously there is a disconnect between the Watchtower’s interpretation and actual reality that is glaringly apparent. And that is always the way it is when the Watchtower speaks to anything having to do with prophecy.
Consider the context of Micah. The preceding verse states: “He will render judgment among many peoples and set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore.”
Can anyone reasonably claim that God has set matters straight and rendered judgment among many peoples? The Watchtower claims that the prophecy is being fulfilled as people flock into the organization and make changes in their personalities and conduct. Because Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse military service the Watchtower reasons that nation not lifting up sword against nation applies to the various national groups who have become Jehovah’s Witnesses. Meanwhile, the actual nations of the world continue to learn war and slaughter each other on a continual basis and appear to be on the verge of another world war; hardly a setting for each one sitting under their own vine and fig tree in security.
And if God has already set matter straight among Jehovah’s Witnesses, why are the victims of JW sex abuse resorting to worldly courts to set matters straight? Does Jehovah God need a team of lawyers to set matters straight between himself and children who have been sexually abused?
Returning to the prophecy of Micah the prophecy indicates that God sets matters straight with his erring people by delivering a punishing blow and treating them harshly. Verse six states: “‘In that day,’ declares Jehovah, ‘I will gather the one who was limping, and collect together the dispersed one, along with those I treated harshly.’”
The harsh treatment is yet to be meted out and will come with the backdrop of war, famine and pestilence. But surely nothing else but the heavy disciplinary hand of Jehovah could possibly set the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses straight.
