Monday, January 9
I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord.
Less than a century after the Christian congregation was established, a foretold apostasy began to develop. Thereafter, it became increasingly difficult to identify who was truly serving God at his spiritual temple. Only centuries later did the time arrive for Jehovah to clarify matters by means of his newly enthroned King, Jesus Christ. By 1919, those approved by Jehovah and serving at his spiritual temple were clearly identified. They had been spiritually refined in order to make their service to God even more acceptable to him. What the apostle Paul had foreseen centuries before in a vision began to be fulfilled in a limited way. We find Paul’s vision described at 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. What Paul saw in a supernatural vision was referred to as a revelation. It involved a future event, not something that existed in his day.
COMMENTARY
The context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians had to do with his qualifications as an apostle. Even though he established the congregation, the reason the apostle was compelled to recommend himself to them was because the Corinthians had come under the influence of certain agents of Satan, whom Paul sarcastically dubbed the “superfine apostles.” In reality they were “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
Paul went on to explain the phenomenon, saying: “And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness.”
Think of it, the Devil had successfully infiltrated the Corinthian congregation, using well-spoken men who had risen to prominence. Having disguised themselves as ministers, these men undoubtedly engaged in the ministry and even witnessed for Christ. But it was a ruse to gain the trust of the Corinthian brothers and sisters. And it worked, which is why Paul exposed the superfine apostles as being frauds —he being inspired to do so.
Satan has not changed tactics. Paul foretold that immediately prior to Christ’s return the Devil would have in place a man of lawlessness who would ultimately sit down in the temple of God, even showing himself to be a god. This man of lawlessness —call them the modern superfine apostles —would make announcements that the day of Jehovah is here, which is why Paul advised the brothers not to be unduly alarmed by written letters purported to be from the apostles themselves. Clearly, the man of lawlessness claims to be an apostle.
Just as the superfine apostles had disguised themselves as ministers of Christ, the man of lawlessness class has similarly insinuated itself into the leadership of the Watchtower, possibly through masonic channels. The presence of the man of lawlessness is “clearly identified” by the undeniable fact that the Watchtower has promoted a false parousia from day one.
Just as the superfine apostles exalted and recommended themselves, the man of lawlessness would have Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ has already come and bestowed his approval on them and as a result of their guidance the organization has blossomed into spiritual paradise.
As Paul foretold, though, the very manifestation of Christ will do away with the man of lawlessness. And the manifestation of Christ will also result in the revealing of the sons of God, as the inspired apostle revealed to the Colossians: “For you died, and your life has been hidden with the Christ in union with God. When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then you also will be made manifest with him in glory.”
Then, the chosen ones will not need to boast of being “clearly identified.” They will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Farther, while the apostate man of lawlessness will weep and gnash his teeth on the outside.
Let him that has ears listen. (Article of the same title)