7/6/16
"You will not be able to witness to every town in Israel before the
Son of Man comes."
(Matthew 10:23; VOICE)
Back in the mid 1970s, we had a Circuit Overseer who in his spare time
arranged tours to the Middle East ― mostly Egypt, Jordan, and Israel
―
for the Brothers and Sisters who could afford to visit that part of the
world. Upon returning from one such journey, one elder in our
congregation commented on the fact that religion was an integral part of
the countries he visited, and that there are comparatively few Witnesses
to preach the good news of the kingdom, which was not officially
permitted by the governments. He came away with the conclusion that
therefore the end of this system of things must still be far off, as he
was of the opinion that every person needs to hear about God's kingdom.
And mind you, this was back in the days when the Society had us believe
that Armageddon was just around the corner.
Was the brother correct in his assumption? Must the good news of the
kingdom be preached in every nation, to every individual, before the end
comes? (Matt. 24:14)
Regarding the signs of the "conclusion of the system of things" (end
of age), Jesus included the fact that his disciples would be
persecuted. (Matt. 24:3, 9-14) On an earlier occasion, he had told his
disciples: "Further, brother will deliver up brother to death, and a
father his child, and children will rise up against parents and will
have them put to death. And you will be objects of hatred by all people
on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one
that will be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to
another; for truly I say to you, you will by no means complete the
circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives."
(Matt. 10:21-23; NWT)
Undaunted, when Jesus' disciples were persecuted they fled to other
cities, where they zealously continued to preach the good news of "the
kingdom of the heavens." Thus the persecution facilitated the spreading
of the good news all over the Roman Empire. (Matt. 10:7; Acts 8:1-6;
13:50,51) Although the preaching work is God's "holy work"
(NWT)
for us, yet, as Jesus indicated, we will not be able to witness to every
town or city, or country, or individual, before his return. (Rom. 15:16)
Thus, we should not expect the preaching work to open up in every
country or territory where it is now under ban or restrictions.
But, would it not be unjust on God's part not to give every person the
same opportunity to hear the good news of his kingdom, and let every
informed individual decide for himself whether to accept or reject it?
The fact is, mankind has had ample opportunity to become acquainted with
the good news of God's kingdom for the past two thousand years; the
information of which is contained in the book that he has lovingly
provided―the
Bible; and which has been available to the vast majority of people of
all nations. How much longer does mankind need before they are willing
to listen to God? He has his own appointed time for when he will hold
all people accountable. (Zeph. 1:14-18; 2 Peter 3:8-10) It is not due to
any fault on God's part that most people have rejected his message, for
they have "accumulated teachers for themselves to have their ears
tickled," while they are putting their trust in the false prophets who
present themselves as leaders, and who have made God's word invalid by
their own doctrines, teachings and traditions, in accord with their own
selfish interests. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Matt. 15:6-9, 14; Acts
20:29,30; Rom. 1:18-32)
And yet, because the preaching of the good news of the kingdom
originates with Jehovah, he is seeing to it that every right-hearted
person ― wherever he may reside
―
receives the opportunity to become acquainted with him. How? Do you
realize that Jehovah's holy angels are not only assisting us in this
work, but they are actually in charge of the preaching work; and that we
are simply "God's fellow workers"?
(Luke 19:40; 1 Cor. 3:9; Heb. 1:14)
The apostle John saw in vision an "angel flying in midheaven, and he had
everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on
the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." (Rev.
14:6; Matt. 28:18-20) It was an angel that directed Philip to approach
the Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the court of queen Candace of
Ethiopia, to explain to him the good news about Jesus; with the result
that this man became a baptized disciple. Would Philip have known about
this devout man without the angel's guidance? (Acts 8:26-40; 10:1-8,
30-33) Many of God's zealous servants today can testify that they have
been guided to a right-hearted person under unusual circumstances, who
rejoiced upon learning of God's kingdom. Perhaps you, too, can relate a
personal experience, either of finding someone who was hungering for
righteousness; or having one of God's servants find you. (Matt. 5:6)
In view of all this, should we not take serious our commission to preach
the good news of the kingdom, "in favorable season, in troublesome
season"? (Mark 13:10; 2 Tim. 4:2) What is our personal responsibility
before God in this?
Since the time has now arrived for God to reveal the presence of the
man of lawlessness within his temple, resulting in the exposing of
the many errors and lies that have been taught in God's name, some of
God's servants have become confused and apprehensive about continuing to
participate in proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, not being sure
how to proceed when someone displays interest. (2 Thess. 2:3,4, 9,10; 1
Cor. 3:16,17) Jesus assured us that "the worker is worthy of his wages";
and the apostle Paul encourages us "not [to] give up in doing what is
fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out." (Luke
10:7; Gal. 6:9) So, please, keep in mind that we are engaging in "the
holy work of the good news of God" (ἱερουργοῡντα
τὸ εὐαγγέλιον
τοῡ
θεοῡ),
and not that of men; and that our reward of everlasting life comes from
Jehovah. (Rom. 15:16; Col. 3:23,24)
Jesus is the one who has been appointed by God to be judge of everyone,
and therefore
it is not our business to judge anyone, including the man of
lawlessness. (Acts 10:42; Jude 9,10)
We do not need to include unscriptural details in our preaching of the
good news of the kingdom, such as telling people God's kingdom was
established in 1914. By strictly confining our message to God's inspired
word, we will appeal to right-hearted people who are yearning for an
answer to present day problems, giving them a hope for a bright future
under God's rulership. (Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 11:15-18; 21:3-5) And since
Jesus is the head of the congregations, we should not hesitate to invite
interested persons to our meetings; perhaps reasoning that we do not
want to expose them to the lies of the Society; and thereby be depriving
them of becoming "members of the household of God."
(Eph. 2:19; 4:15,16; Rev. 1:9-11, 20)
In his illustration of the dragnet, Jesus showed that all sorts of
persons will respond to the preaching of the good news, yet not everyone
will be suitable for the kingdom. And just as the angels are having a
vital part in the preaching of the kingdom, so too they remove anyone
who does not belong in God's kingdom. (Matt. 13:47-49) The judging does
not belong to us; but the preaching work does! Since it is from God, it
will be accomplished. Therefore, may you continue to have a share in it
according to your ability!
6/16/16
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful
in your prayers."
(1 Peter 4:7; NKJV)
When you read the letters of the apostles Peter and John and Paul; and
the two half-brothers of Jesus, James and Jude; yes, also Jesus' own
words, including his letters to the Seven Congregations; can you sense
the immediacy that those Bible writers expressed in their endeavor to
encourage and admonish the disciples in the first century regarding the
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ? (Matt. 24:42, 44; Rom. 13:11,12; 1
Thess. 5:4-6; Rev. 2:16; 3:11; 22:7) Has perhaps the passing of two
thousand years greatly diminished your own sense of urgency?
As the first century was drawing to a close, John, the last surviving
member of the twelve apostles, had seen many troubling developments
within the congregations, as these had grown and expanded in a few short
years throughout the Roman Empire. The troubling developments
included the appearance of false Christs and apostates, even as foretold
by Jesus.
(Matt. 24:23-26) John's words express a certain urgency, when he wrote:
"Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as
you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ
and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers)
have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour."
(1 John 2:18; Amplified Bible)
The presence of false teachers
in many of the congregations like Pergamum, Thyatira, even Corinth; and
overseers like Diotrephes,
may have led the apostle John to believe that it was the last hour.
Or, perhaps, John was also keenly aware of the urgency of the time
because of what Jesus had said in reply to Peter's question as
to what would become of John. Jesus had answered Peter with the words:
"If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern
is that to you?" John explains that "In consequence, this saying went
out among the brothers, that that disciple would not die." Of course,
that is not what Jesus had said! (John 21:20-24; 3 John 9,10; Rev.
2:14-16, 20-23) The apostle John himself may have understood Jesus'
words to mean that he would remain until Jesus' return, and, since he
was well along in years, he may have reasoned that it was now the last
hour and that Jesus was "standing at the door." (John 14:1-4; Rev. 3:20;
22:12, 20) And, yet, although John believed that it was the last hour in
his day, almost two thousand years ago, that does not make "the last
hour" of his less meaningful for us today; for Paul explains that "Such
things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us"... "who live
at the end of the age." (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11, NLT)
You see, it doesn't matter why John believed that the end of all things
was at hand in his day, for the things that are written in the
Scriptures are really meant for us, "upon whom the ends of the system of
things have arrived." (1 Cor. 10:11; NWT) It is meant for our
instruction and our encouragement, in order for us to be able to endure
our present tribulation that Jesus said we would experience. (Matt.
24:10-13; John 16:1-4; 2 Tim. 3:1-7)
God's people have always been in the minority and few in number
when compared to the world that "is lying in the power of the wicked
one."
But that does not make us insignificant―no, not in God's eyes; for God's
people are the ones about whom, and for whom, the Bible was written. (1
John 5:19;
Heb. 11:32-39) Ever since the rebellion against God in the Garden of
Eden, mankind has had to choose between two very distinct and opposite
sides: either Jehovah's side which revolves around his true worship; or
the opposing side belonging to Satan, "who is misleading the entire
inhabited earth," ― whose earth has been partitioned into the
countless religious and political divisions. (Gen. 3:15; Rev. 12:9) For
that reason, Jehovah requires that his people keep themselves separate
and "without spot" from the world. (James 1:27; 2 Cor. 4:4;
1 Cor. 10:20-22)
We cannot be part of the world and at the same time be a member of God's
house. (2
Cor. 6:14-18;
James 4:4)
The amazing yet disturbing events that are now happening within God's
house, in fulfillment of Bible prophecies, goes unnoticed by the world;
just as the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost in the first
century was a non-event to the Jews who had rejected Jesus. But we, who
have understanding of the significance of the present unfolding events
among God's people,
are heeding Jesus' admonition to "keep awake, then, all the time making
supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are
destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man." (Luke
21:34-36)
Jehovah must judge his own people first, for how, otherwise, could he
judge the world? Paul explains: "When we do wrong, that shows more
clearly that God is right. So can we say that God does wrong when he
punishes us? (That’s the way some people think.) Of course not. If God
could not punish us, how could he judge the world?"
(Rom. 3:4-6, ERV)
Seeing that God's judgment starts with his own house, should we not
expect certain developments that would provide evidence of that? (1
Peter 4:17,18; Dan. 11:35) Actually, the world has already been judged!
God passed judgment upon Satan and his world of mankind immediately upon
the rebellion in Eden. Jesus explains that "he that does not exercise
faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith
in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." (John 3:18; 12:31)
While the judgment has already been determined upon all who refuse to
put faith in the only "name under heaven that has been given among men
by which we must get saved," yet, there still remains the need to
identify and judge the members of God's house. That is because not
everyone claiming to worship Jehovah is in fact acknowledged by him as
belonging to him, as Jesus said and also illustrated in his parable of
the wheat and the weeds, and the dragnet. (Acts 4:12; Matt. 13:36-43,
47-49) God's people will be judged, not by who or what they profess to
be, or claim to have done, but by their obedience to God. That is why
Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven." The prophet Malachi speaks of the time when Jehovah will set
apart his true worshipers, for then we will again "see the distinction
between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and
one who has not served him.” (Matt. 7:21-23; ESV; Mal. 3:17,18;
4:1-3)
Do you feel the urgency of the present time, as did the apostle John,
that "the end of all things is at hand"? (Compare 2 Peter 3:1-4, 9-13)
We can find comfort in knowing that our present persecution from within
the congregation, or from our family members, will soon come to an end,
"at the revelation of our Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful
angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not
know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus."
(Matt. 10:32-39; 2 Thess. 1:6-10)
When Jesus' indicated just how difficult it will be to get into the
kingdom, his disciples were moved to ask: "Who really can be saved?"
Jesus answered them by saying: "With men this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:24-26; Rom. 7:17-25) For us to
"endure to the end" is not a matter of survival of the fittest, but
rather the outcome for everyone who has put his steadfast trust in
Jehovah; and not in men. That requires that we "keep [ourselves] in God's love, while
[we] are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting
life in view." (Jude 21; Psalms 146:3,5)
5/14/16
"In Eden, the garden of God, you proved to be."
(Ezekiel 28:13)
When God created Adam and
Eve, they were perfect―without any defect; and they had everything they
needed―there was nothing lacking. God purposed a bright and endless
future for our original parents, as he blessed them and gave them the
meaningful and enjoyable assignment to "be fruitful and become many and
fill the earth and subdue it." (Gen 1:26-28; 2:7, 15) So, what went
wrong? How is it that a perfect man, who is created in God's own image,
can sin? Sin means "missing the mark." Can a perfect person "miss the
mark" by falling short? Would that not indicate something lacking?
Please consider what perfection does not mean.
Being perfect did not
mean for Adam to be all-knowing. After he was created he had to learn
about his Creator, not only by studying his amazing surrounding but also
by communicating with his heavenly Father. He had to become familiar
with his home, which included the abundant variety of foods available to
him. And he had to learn about the animals by observing them and
interacting with them, since God had given him the work of assigning
names to them. (Genesis 2:19,20) Jehovah intended to educate Adam, and
since he was perfect he would be able to retain the information easily,
having a perfect memory―no brain fog. And, in turn, what Adam learned he
could teach to his future offspring.
Although perfect, there
were many things Adam
could not do simply because he was not designed for it. For example, he
might run with the animals, but not necessarily outrun them. He clearly
could not fly like the birds, no matter how much he might have desired
to soar like an eagle. His ability to dive under water depended entirely
on how long he could hold his breath.
Perfection did not mean that he
would not get tired. (John 4:6)
Neither does
perfection require a golfer to get a hole-in-one every time he swings
his golf club; nor a musician to be able to sit in front of a piano for
his first time and play a complicated piece of classical music without
any practice or lessons.
Consider Jesus for
example. He was born without sin, and like Adam he was perfect. Yet, he
could not walk as soon as he was born, but like all of us, had to learn
that. He probably stumbled a few times before he became proficient at
it, until he was finally able to run. He also had to learn to talk, and
later learn from his father Joseph the carpentry skills. Does perfection demand
that he did everything "perfectly" the first time? He needed to be
educated, although he must have been an excellent student. By the time
he was twelve years of age the teachers in the temple "were in constant
amazement at his understanding and his answers." (Luke 2:46,47)
Perfection enabled Jesus to take in information, retain it, recall it
when needed, and apply it far better than we are able to do in our
present imperfect condition. (Matthew 13:54)
Adam too had to acquire
knowledge and skills, which would take time and might even include
making mistakes, such as stumbling over an obstacle. In order to shield
man from the consequences of any serious mistakes, Jehovah God lovingly
provided him protection in the form of a powerful—yet invisible to
humans—spirit person, a cherub, to "cover" or screen man from any
serious harm. (In the same way that Jehovah screened, or covered, Moses
when Moses got a glimpse of God's glory. ―Ex. 33:21-23) He was to be
man's "covering"—or guardian—angel. (Compare Luke 4:9-11; Psalms
91:10-12) This cherub was "an angelic creature of high rank having
special duties, distinguished from the order of seraphs... In
[Ezekiel’s] pictorial visions the cherubs are intimately associated with
the glorious personage of Jehovah and constantly attendant upon him." —INSIGHT
ON THE SCRIPTURES, Vol. 1, page 431,
But rather than prove
himself to be the protector God had anointed him to be, this once
glorious cherub became responsible for man's fall from perfection, when
he succeeded in getting Eve to rebel against God's clearly stated
command not to eat of the "tree of the knowledge of good and bad," and
Eve in turn induced Adam to join her. (Gen. 2:16,17; 3:1-13) Just as a
sinful person can do good, because he wants to, in the same way a
perfect person can also do bad, if that is what he chooses to do.
(Compare Ezekiel 33:18,19)
The Bible reveals the
following about this anointed covering cherub: "This is what the
Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: 'You are sealing up a pattern, full of
wisdom and perfect in beauty. In Eden, the garden of God, you proved to
be. Every precious stone was your covering, ruby, topaz and jasper;
chrysolite, onyx and jade; sapphire, turquoise and emerald; and of gold
was the workmanship of your settings and your sockets in you. In the day
of your being created they were made ready. You are the anointed cherub
that is covering, and I have set you. On the holy mountain of God you
proved to be. In the midst of fiery stones you walked about. You were
faultless in your ways from the day of your being created until
unrighteousness was found in you. Because of the abundance of your
sales goods they filled the midst of you with violence, and you began to
sin. And I shall put you as profane out of the mountain of God, and I
shall destroy you, O cherub that is covering, from the midst of the
fiery stones. Your heart became haughty because of your beauty. You
brought your wisdom to ruin on account of your beaming splendor.
Onto the earth I will throw you. Before kings I will set you, [for them]
to look upon you.'" (Ezekiel 28:12-17)
Being anointed by God
rightfully placed this cherub in the Garden of Eden. He had been given
his position of authority in the same way that Jehovah has entrusted
other servants of his with authority to watch over his people, such as
in the case of Moses, Saul, David, Jeroboam, and many others, including
of course Jesus and his twelve apostles. (Num. 12:7; Heb. 3:1,2; 5:4-6;
2 Sam. 7:8; Matt. 28:18; 24:45-47; Luke 12:32) Having received his
authority from Jehovah, this anointed cherub could later say to Jesus
when tempting him, "I will give you all this authority and the glory of
them, because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I
give it." (Luke 4:6; John 12:31)
Seeing that this high
ranking cherub had been anointed by God, can we blame God when an
anointed servant of his becomes presumptuous on account of his position
of authority, such as was the case with king Saul; king Jeroboam; Judas
Iscariot; or even some present day "anointed" ones who have rebelled
against God by lifting themselves up over their fellow brothers, in
imitation of the anointed covering cherub who made himself Satan the
Devil? (1 Sam. 13:13,14; 1 Kings 14:6-11; Acts 1:15-20; 2 Cor. 1:21;
Rev. 12:9) Jehovah has promised that he will remove all such rebellious
ones at his appointed time, and "break up the works of the Devil." This
means that he will yet succeed in having righteous mankind live forever
upon the paradise earth that Adam failed to bring about. (2 Thess.
2:3,4, 8-10; 1 John 3:8; Isaiah 25:8,9; Rev. 21:1-4)
4/28/16
"Woe to the stupid prophets, who...have waited to have a word come true."
(Ezekiel 13:2-10)
How do we identify a true prophet
from a false prophet, or vice versa?
The Scriptures warn against following
false prophets, while at the same time requiring us to listen to the prophet
from Jehovah. For example, Moses was appointed by Jehovah as his prophet and
leader of his people, and it was absolutely necessary for the people to
listen to him. Any revolt against Moses was a revolt against God himself!
(Num. 12:1-9; 16:1-3, 11, 23, 28-35, 41-50) Jehovah further foretold that at
some future time he would raise up a prophet like Moses from among his
people, to whom they would need to listen, saying: "A prophet I shall raise
up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you; and I shall indeed
put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I
shall command him. And it must occur that the man who will not listen to my
words that he will speak in my name, I shall myself require an account from
him." Then Jehovah added this warning: “‘However, the prophet who presumes
to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who
speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die." (Deut.
18:18-20; John 12:44-50) The foretold
prophet like Moses proved to be Jesus
Christ, who became the
mediator of the new covenant. (John 5:46,47; Heb. 3:1-6; 9:15)
Seeing that it was vital to listen to God's approved prophet, while at the
same time not falling victim to a false prophet, the question God's people
naturally asked was: "How shall we know the word that
Jehovah has not spoken?" Jehovah's answer? "When the prophet speaks in the
name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word
that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it,"
adding, "You must not get frightened at him." (Deut. 18:21,22) Clearly, a false prophet
is identified when he speaks in
God's name and his words fail to come true. That is very basic
―
and there are no exceptions! But it may take time for the words
to be proven a lie, often many years, during which time the false prophet
may exploit his presumed position as God's prophet to the harm of the people.
(Isaiah 29:9-14; Matt. 15:3-9)
That was the case in the days of Jehovah's prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel,
whose words from God were contradicted and opposed by the self-appointed
false prophets. Jehovah called them "stupid" because they "waited to have
a word come true," imagining that because of speaking in God's name he would
be obligated to make their personal visions and predictions come about. That
was stupid indeed; and so were the people who put their trust in them! (Ezek. 13:3; 14:9,10;
Jer.
23:16-22, 30-32) God's people were not so much in danger of the false
prophets of the nations as they were of their own false prophets, such as
Hananiah who was prophesying "in the house of Jehovah before the eyes of the
priests and of all the people."
(Jer. 28:1-9, 15-17; 2 Chron. 18:6,7,
12,13)
Should we be surprised that false prophets, like Hananiah, are also to be found among God's people
today, "in the house of Jehovah"? The apostle Peter foretold: "But even in those days there were
false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you today. They
will be men who will subtly introduce dangerous heresies. They will thereby
deny the Lord who redeemed them, and it will not be long before they bring
on themselves their own downfall. Many will follow their pernicious teaching
and thereby bring discredit on the way of truth. In their lust to make
converts these men will try to exploit you too with their bogus arguments.
But judgment has been for some time hard on their heels and their downfall
is inevitable." (2 Peter 2:1-3; PHILLIPS) Jesus also forewarned
of the presence of false prophets among God's people in the time leading up
to his return (presence), when he said: "For false Christs (anointed ones)
and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to
mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones." (Matt. 24:24,25; Acts 20:29,30)
In his second letter to the congregation in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul
goes even further in identifying the false prophets and false teachers
within God's house, whom he calls collectively "the man of lawlessness" and
"the son of destruction," explaining that "he is set in opposition and lifts
himself up over everyone who is called 'god' or an object of reverence, so
that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a
god." God's temple is his people, and that is where the man of lawlessness
is ruling, exercising authority over God's people that he claims he received
from God; but in reality his presence is "according to the operation of
Satan." (2 Thess. 2:3-12;
1 Cor. 3:16,17; 1 Tim. 3:15)
Jehovah says that
a false prophet
is anyone who speaks "in the
name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true. With presumptuousness the prophet
spoke it." That was also the case of Charles Taze Russell,
the founder of the Watchtower Bible
and Tract Society, who believed that Jesus had returned in 1874 (as did
other clergymen), and for forty years sounded the warning that the Gentile
Times of Luke 21:24 ("the appointed times of the nations," NWT) would
end in 1914; at which time God's kingdom would begin its rule, and the
disciples would be taken up to heaven. He also expected the nations to meet
their end at Armageddon with that event.
(jv 134-135; w90 10/15
19)
The outbreak of World War I in 1914
seemed to vindicate his prophecy―at
least for a few short years. Russell died in 1916, and so he did not see
that his expectations went unfulfilled, as
the Great War ended in November of
1918 and the nations had not met their end; and neither had the disciples
gone to be with Jesus.
Joseph Rutherford, who succeeded Russell as president of the secular
Watchtower Society in 1917, rejected many of Russell's teachings, and
reinterpreted the Scriptures according to his own fascination with Types
and Anti-Types, upon which he based many, if not most, of his
beliefs―interpreting every
past event recorded in the Scriptures
as having a modern fulfillment, or anti-type. (This idea has been rejected
with the March 15, 2015 Watchtower.) He also expected that the year 1925
would see "the fulfillment of marvelous Bible prophecies, believing that at
that time the earthly resurrection would begin, bringing back faithful men
of old, such as Abraham, David, and Daniel," and for that reason even
purchased a house for them to live in. But to their great disappointment,
the expected resurrection did not occur and the property was eventually
sold.
The same Awake! article quoted above, further stated that "more
recently, many Witnesses came to believe that events associated with the
beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign might start to take place in 1975.
Their anticipation was based on the understanding that the seventh
millennium of human history would begin then." Further, in the 1960s and
early 70s, we were assured that we would not grow old in this system and
therefore it would be pointless to pursue a career in this world. To the
hurt and great disappointment of many, this has proved to be also false as
these ones have grown old, and many are now destitute because of not having
planned for their retirement in this system. And what can be said about the
promise that the generation of 1914 would not pass away before Armageddon,
but which ran out of time in the mid 1990s? These are just some examples of
promises made in God's name, but which proved to be lies. (See Awake!
1995 6/22 p. 9 Can You Trust God’s Promises?; Also Awake! May 22,
1969, p. 15; Kingdom Ministry May 1974, p. 3)
The above Awake! article, entitled "Can You Trust God’s Promises?",
explained away the failed prophecies this way, saying:
"These erroneous views did not mean
that God’s promises were wrong, that he had made a mistake. By no means! The
mistakes or misconceptions, as in the case of first-century Christians, were
due to a failure to heed Jesus’ caution, ‘You do not know the time.’ The
wrong conclusions were due, not to malice or to unfaithfulness to Christ,
but to a fervent desire to realize the fulfillment of God’s promises in
their own time."
Jehovah has nothing to do with their "erroneous views," their lies.
How blasphemous to even question whether we can
trust God's promises because of their own failed expectations; or to explain them away
as a good thing, a "desire to realize the fulfillment of God’s promises in
their own time." The truth of the matter is that the false prophets within
God's house "have visioned what is untrue and a lying divination, those who
are saying, 'The utterance of Jehovah is,' when Jehovah himself has not sent
them, and they have waited [in vain, we might add] to have a word come true." (Ezek. 13:6-10)
Right up to the present day, the governing body, identified as "the
man of lawlessness," has continued to perpetuate the lie that Jesus returned
in 1914 and has been ruling in his heavenly kingdom ever since, contrary to
Jesus' own words as recorded at Luke 21:29-32. Jehovah tells us not to become frightened at them, for their "judgment has
been for some time hard on their heels and their downfall is inevitable." (John 16:1-4; 1 John 4:1, 6)
4/6/16
"He That Sent Me is Real, and You Do Not Know Him"
(John 7:28)
How well do you know Jehovah? How real is
he to you? Although the Israelites were God's people, they did not know Him.
Through Jeremiah his prophet, Jehovah said to them: “And I gradually brought
you to a land of the orchard, to eat its fruitage and its good things. But
you came in and defiled my land; and my own inheritance you made something
detestable. The priests themselves did not say, ‘Where is Jehovah?’ And
the very ones handling the law did not know me; and the shepherds
themselves transgressed against me, and even the prophets prophesied by
Baal, and after those who could bring no benefit they walked." (Jer. 2:7,8)
We might think that the
nation of Israel would have known their God Jehovah. After all, they had
Abraham as their father; and Abraham certainly knew Jehovah―being called
"Jehovah's friend." (John 8:39; James 2:23) Jehovah was also the God of
Abraham's son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, both of whom had likewise come
to know Jehovah personally. (Luke 20:37,38; Gen. 26:12, 24,25; 28:10-19) But
with the passing of more than 400 years, from the time God had first
promised Abraham to make his seed as numerous as "the stars of the heavens
and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore," his "seed" did not
know the God of their forefathers. That was perhaps mainly due to the fact
that the children born to the seventy souls of Jacob's house, who had moved
into Egypt, came under the influence of the Egyptians and their gods; having
learned what they knew about their God Jehovah only from what their fathers
and grandfathers related to them. (Gen. 22:17; 46:3,4, 26,27)
When Jehovah sent Moses to
deliver his people Israel out of Egypt, they did not know Jehovah. ( Ex.
12:40,41) That is why Moses asked: "Suppose I am now come to the sons of
Israel and I do say to them, 'The God of your forefathers has sent me to
you,' and they do say to me, 'What is his name?' What shall I say to them?"
At this God said to Moses: "This is what you are to say to the sons of
Israel, 'Jehovah the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name to time
indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation."
(Ex. 3:13-15) The Israelites quickly learned that their true God Jehovah was
far superior to all the gods of Egypt when he brought the ten plagues upon
the Egyptians, which resulted in their freedom. Not only did his people need
to unlearn the ways of the Egyptians and their false worship, but they also
needed to become acquainted with Jehovah on a personal level, as had been
true of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [Israel].
How would every individual of Jehovah's
liberated people come to know Him? Jehovah purposed to
make himself known by his dealings with them. For that reason he was going
to lead them through the hostile and barren wilderness, where such a great
multitude would surely have perished without his loving and timely
provisions and protection. In the wilderness they would be alone with
Jehovah! Hence, after having destroyed the pursuing Egyptian army in the Red
Sea, Jehovah directed Moses to lead his people into the wilderness of Shur,
where they marched for three days without having any water. Of course they
were very thirsty by then, probably barely able to walk! They had witnessed
Jehovah's great power in their deliverance from the Egyptians, but they also
needed to come to know his other qualities besides his power, such as his
love and justice and mercy; and his insistence on obedience!
When they finally found water at Marah, it was
bitter so that they could not drink it. How did they respond? The account
tells us that "the people began to murmur against Moses, saying: 'What are
we to drink?'" Moses then cried out to Jehovah, and "Jehovah directed him to
a tree, and he threw it into the water and the water became sweet." It says
that "there [Jehovah] put them to the test," that is, he tested their faith
under suffering. Did they really doubt that Jehovah would come to their aid,
after having delivered them out of Egypt just to perish in the wilderness?
Genuine faith is not a one-time matter but is constant, even in the face of
adversity! (Ex. 15:22-27; Heb. 11:1,2, 8, 17-19) Sadly,
time and again the entire assembly would rebel against Jehovah when
confronted with suffering, even
threatening to return to Egypt.
The two years of wandering in
the wilderness was to serve as a get-acquainted
with Jehovah occasion, for it was Jehovah's way of giving every individual among his people
the opportunity to come to know him; just as their
forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had trusted in Him. He had purposed to
lead them through the great wilderness for only two years (still a lengthy time,
considering the hostile environment in company with such a large crowd),
which included the visit to Mount Sinai, where he entered into the covenant
with them that established them as his people; and where he gave them his
Laws by which to live and worship him. (Deut. 29:10-18; 30:19,20)
The two years in their harsh environment, where
they daily needed to rely on Jehovah, should have been ample time to get
acquainted with their God. They needed the faith in order to take possession
of the land of Canaan, which God had promised to their forefather Abraham.
(Gen. 13:14-17; Deut. 8:10-20) Yet, they failed to enter the land, although
having reached its boundary. Why? Because they feared the Canaanites! They
had learned nothing during their two years of wandering in the wilderness;
or their liberation from Egyptian slavery. Read the account for yourself,
how the people rebelled against Jehovah once again, and even talked of
pelting Moses and Aaron with stones, wanting to replace them with a leader
of their choosing who would return them to Egypt. It says that "they would
make [Jehovah] feel hurt in the desert! And again and again they would put
God to the test, and they pained even the Holy One of Israel." Until Jehovah
came to despise that generation. (Psalms 78:40-42, 59) Therefore, Jehovah
sentenced them to wander in the wilderness for an additional thirty-eight
years, until they had all died in the wilderness, with the exception of
Caleb and Joshua, for as Jehovah told them, "You will answer for your errors
forty years, as you must know what my being estranged means." (Num.
13:1,2, 25-33; 14:1-12, 26-30, 34)
With few exceptions, the Jews
never got to know Jehovah, the God of their forefathers. When they asked
Jesus, "'Who do you claim to be?' Jesus answered: 'If I glorify myself, my
glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifies me, he who you say is
your God; and yet you have not known him. But I know him. And if
I said I do not know him I should be like you, a liar. But I do know him and
am observing his word.'" (John 8:53-56) It is a sobering fact that among
God's people in the past, very few knew Jehovah personally. Paul lists some
of the men and women to whom Jehovah was real. They had implicit faith in
Him; and he took notice of them. (Heb. 11:3-40; Mal. 3:16-18)
What about you? Can Jehovah add your name to his
list of faithful worshipers who know him? He
assures us that under the new covenant "they will all of them know me, from
the least one of them even to the greatest one of them. For I shall forgive
their error, and their sin I shall remember no more." (Jer. 31:34; Heb.
8:11,12)
3/18/16
"Whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of
the Lord unworthily. . ."
(1 Corinthians 11:27)
When Jesus instituted the Memorial of his death, and instructed his
disciples to "keep doing this in remembrance of me," he did not include any
other details such as instructions regarding someone "unrighteous" partaking
of the bread and the wine. (1 Cor. 6:9,10; 2 Peter 2:9) Thus, it seems there
were some in the early Christian congregations who missed the point, or
significance, of this solemn occasion. For example, Paul found it necessary
to counsel some of the members in the congregation in Corinth for treating
"the Lord's evening meal" as an opportunity to celebrate their love of good
food and wine, to the point of over-eating and getting intoxicated. (1 Cor.
11:17-22) Consequently, Paul explained how the Lord's evening meal ought to
be observed by reminding them of its purpose: "For every time you eat this
bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord’s death,
that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again." (1 Cor. 11:23-26,
TLB)
The purpose of coming together on the anniversary of Jesus' death is to
retell the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for us!
Paul says: "God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
Jesus' death has opened for mankind the way to everlasting life; even for
unrighteous persons who have died, for they will return to life in the
future resurrection. (John 3:16; 5:28,29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:22)
Paul goes on to caution the brothers in Corinth that it would be a serious
matter for someone to partake of the bread and the wine unworthily, saying:
"So
if anyone eats this bread and drinks from this cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner, he is guilty of sin against the body and the blood of
the Lord.
28
That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread
and drinking from the cup.
29
For if he eats the bread and drinks from the cup unworthily, not thinking
about the body of Christ and what it means, he is eating and drinking God’s
judgment upon himself; for he is trifling with the death of Christ.
30
That is why many of you are weak and sick, and some have even died*.
31
But if you carefully examine yourselves before eating you will not need to
be judged and punished." (1 Cor. 11:26-31; TLB) In what way can a
person eat the bread and drink from the cup unworthily, thereby eating and
drinking God's judgment upon himself?
After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples, proving to them that
he was indeed alive, and helped them understand the Scriptures in connection
with his death and resurrection, saying, in part: "In this way it is written
that the Christ would suffer and rise from among the dead on the third day,
and on the basis of his name repentance for forgiveness of sins
would be preached in all the nations―starting out from Jerusalem." (Luke
24:36-47)
Before God grants us forgiveness
for our sins, there must first be repentance―a
genuine regret for having fallen short of God's righteous requirements.
Without
repentance there can be no forgiveness! That is why Peter writes: "Jehovah
is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he
is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but
desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Someone who has repented of his sins, will try his best not to commit them
again, isn't that so? And if he has a certain weakness, he doesn't give up
in his struggle to overcome it, for he realizes that as long as he continues
to genuinely repent for his sin(s) Jehovah will forgive him. (1 John 2:1-6)
But what can be said of a person who after having come to know the truth
keeps sinning wilfully, perhaps reasoning that Jesus' death will
cover all his sins? Should such a person eat of the bread and drink of the
wine at the Memorial? Paul says that such a person would be partaking
unworthily, eating and drinking God's judgment upon himself, for he is "trifling
with the death of Christ." In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul wrote: "If
we decide to go on sinning after we have learned the truth, there is no
longer any sacrifice for sins.
There is nothing but fear in waiting for the judgment and the angry fire
that will destroy all those who live against God.
Any person who refused to obey the law of Moses was found guilty from the
proof given by two or three witnesses. He was put to death without mercy.
So what do you think should be done to a person who does not respect the Son
of God? He looks at the blood of the agreement, the blood that made him
holy, as no different from other men’s blood. He insults the Spirit of God’s
grace. Surely he should have a much worse punishment.
We know that God said, 'I will punish those who do wrong. I will repay
them.' And he also said, 'The Lord will judge his people.'
It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb.
10:26-31; 6:4-6; ICB)
The Memorial of Jesus' death (Wednesday, March 23,
2016) should move us to express deep appreciation to our Lord
Jesus, and to Jehovah our God, for the ransom provision, without which
everlasting life would not be possible; and for each of us to consider the
progress we have made in the truth for the past year (since the last
Memorial) in putting on the new personality, by bringing our lives into ever
greater harmony with God's will. (Eph. 4:20-24; 1 Peter 4:1-5)
Also, note one other point: Paul nowhere forbids anyone from partaking of
the bread and the wine, for that would be overstepping his authority and
overruling Jesus' command to "keep doing this in remembrance of me." Paul
leaves it up to each individual as to what he does. If a person partakes
unworthily, then he will come under God's judgment. Thus Paul's admonition:
"That is why a man should examine himself carefully before eating the bread
and drinking from the cup."
-------------------------
*The
Greek word here is sleeping. Some translations read "sleeping [in
death]," such as the New World Translation. (see 1 Cor. 15:6, 20);
while other translations, such as Phillips, read "spiritually
asleep," or simply are "sleeping." The context itself seems to suggest that
Paul was saying that many who have been partaking unworthily are weak and
sick spiritually, as well as spiritually asleep. (Compare 1 Thessalonians
5:4-7)
3/9/16
"Keep Doing This in Remembrance of Me."
(Luke 22:19)
Under the heading, You Will Be
With Me in Paradise, the invitation to this year's Memorial, reads: "In
the hours before he died, Jesus assured his faithful apostles that they
would be with him in his heavenly kingdom. (Luke 22:28-30) He later promised
a condemned criminal: 'You will be with me in Paradise.' (Luke 23:43) How
will those words come true? The fulfillment of both promises is possible
because Jesus surrendered his life for mankind, even for sinners like that
criminal. Jesus' sacrifice was so vital that he commanded his followers to
commemorate it.―Luke 22:19,20.
"This year, the anniversary of Jesus' death falls on
Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Jehovah's Witnesses invite you to meet with
them on that date to observe the Memorial that Jesus instituted. You will
hear an explanation of how his death can benefit you and your family."
On that last night with his apostles, as Jesus passed the loaf (bread) to
them, he said, "This means (is―έστιν) my body which is to be given in your
behalf, Keep doing this in remembrance of me." And regarding the cup (wine),
he added, "This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is
to be poured out in your behalf." (Luke 22:19,20; NWT) There is nothing in
Jesus' words that suggests that his command to "keep doing this in
remembrance of me" was restricted to his apostles who were present with him
on that occasion; or to some other "special" group. The apostle Paul was not
present, and neither were any of the members of the congregation in Corinth,
to whom he wrote instructions on how to behave and "eat the Lord's evening
meal." (1 Cor. 11:20-29)
Why do Jehovah's Witnesses
believe that only the remnant of the 144,000 (little flock) still on earth are
entitled to partake of the bread and the wine; while everyone else is
invited to merely observe the ritual of passing the emblems from person to
person? You may be surprised to learn that it wasn't always like that. It
was first in 1938 that a new class of "sheeplike" persons were invited to
the Memorial, but only as observers. Under the heading OBSERVERS AT THE
MEMORIAL, The Watchtower in 1978 said this: "A remnant of
spiritual Israelites, who are members of the spiritual 'body' of Christ, are
still on earth. In recent years they have invited others to attend the
annual Memorial celebration as witnesses or observers. These
dedicated sheeplike persons were foreshadowed by Jonadab the friend of
King Jehu of Israel. (2 Ki. 10:15-23; Jer. 35:1-16) Ever since the year
1935 C.E. Jesus Christ the Fine Shepherd has brought a 'great crowd' of such
modern 'Jonadabs' or 'other sheep' into association with the
spirit-begotten remnant of his spiritual 'body.' But first in the Watchtower
issue of February 15, 1938, we read this invitation: “ . . . After 6 p.m. on
April 15 let each company of the anointed assemble and celebrate the
Memorial, their companions the Jonadabs also being present. Let the emblems
be unleavened bread and real red wine.”—Page 50, under 'Memorial.'
"Those 'other sheep,' who are not of the same 'fold' as
the 'little flock,' attended the Memorial as observers, not as
partakers."—The Watchtower 1978 3/1 p. 11 Memorializing Christ’s
Death—How Much Longer? (Bold added)
Who was this "great crowd" of
"modern Jonadabs" or "other sheep," who were "not of the same 'fold" as "the
spirit-begotten remnant of [Jesus'] spiritual “body”? This is how The
Watchtower (1979) explained it: "Volume III of Vindication,
released Monday, July 18, 1932, in Brooklyn, N.Y., was the first to set out
(on pages 77-83) that Jonadab of old pictured a class of God-fearing
people who, under God’s protection, would pass alive through the 'great
tribulation' into the New Order under Christ’s kingdom. (Pp. 230-233 of
the Watchtower issue of August 1, 1932) The interesting subject for
discussion 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die' was thought to apply to
them. Logically, then, the Watchtower issue of April 15, 1935, made
this announcement: "Again The Watchtower reminds its readers that a
convention of Jehovah’s witnesses and Jonadabs will be held at
Washington, D.C., beginning May 30 and ending June 3, 1935. It is hoped that
many of the remnant and the Jonadabs may find it convenient to attend this
convention. Heretofore not many Jonadabs have had the privilege of attending
a convention, and the convention at Washington may be a real comfort and
benefit to them.—P. 114.
"23 It did prove to be so, for there on Friday, May 31,
it was revealed to them that the Jonadab class was identical with the “great
multitude” foreseen in Revelation 7:9-17 (Authorized Version). Likely most
of the 840 conventioners baptized in water next day proved to be Jonadabs
or antitypical Rechabites.
"24 The original Jonadab lived in the 10th century
B.C.E. and did not see Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E. But his
descendants, the Rechabites, whom Jeremiah put to a test on vow
keeping, did experience Jerusalem’s downfall and survived it indefinitely.
Because of descent from Jonadab, they too prefigured the 'great crowd'
destined to survive Christendom’s downfall."—The Watchtower 1979 12/1
p. 28 pars. 22-25. (Bold added)
As we can see from the above,
our celebration of the Memorial—who partakes or doesn't partake—is entirely
based on Joseph (Judge) Rutherford's interpretation according to the idea of
types and antitypes; an idea that was taught by such "Church
Fathers" as Origen, Ambrose, and Jerome; regarding whom The International
Standard Bible Encyclopaedia says: “They sought for types, and of course
found them, in every incident and event, however trivial, recorded in
Scripture. Even the most simple and commonplace circumstance was thought to
conceal within itself the most recondite [hidden] truth..., even in the
number of fish caught by the disciples on the night the risen Saviour
appeared to them—how much some have tried to make of that number, 153!”
Many would be surprised to
learn just how much of our doctrines has been based on Rutherford's
interpretation of
types and antitypes; teachings that are not found in the Scriptures. What is meant by
types and antitypes? Last year's (2015) Watchtower explained: ˇThe
Watchtower of September 15, 1950, defined a 'type' and an 'antitype' this
way: "A type is an image or representation of something that will come to
pass at some future time. The antitype is the reality of the thing which the
type represents. The type may properly be called a shadow; the antitype, the
reality.' Many years ago, our publications stated that such faithful men and
women as Deborah, Elihu, Jephthah, Job, Rahab, and Rebekah, as well as many
others, were really types, or shadows, of either the anointed or the 'great
crowd.' (Rev.7:9) For example, Jephthah, Job, and Rebekah were thought to
represent the anointed, while Deborah and Rahab were said to foreshadow the
great crowd. However, in recent years we have not drawn such comparisons.
Why not? . . ."
To the above mentioned names of men and women who represented, or
foreshadowed, the "anointed" or the "great crowd," we can also add Jehu and
Jonadab who are conspicuously omitted in the above quoted article. After
citing some obviously improbable and illogical examples, it goes on to
answer why they no longer draw such comparisons:
"If such interpretations seem far-fetched, you can understand the dilemma.
Humans cannot know which Bible accounts are shadows of things to come and
which are not. The clearest course is this: Where the Scriptures teach
that an individual, an event, or an object is typical of something else, we
accept it as such. Otherwise, we ought to be reluctant to assign an
antitypical application to a certain person or account if there is no specific
Scriptural basis for doing so."—The Watchtower 2015 3/15 p.
17-18. (Bold added)
Does that mean that in the near future, the Society will also revoke their
teachings that are based on Rutherford's interpretation of types and
antitypes; thereupon allowing,
perhaps even encouraging, everyone to partake of the bread and the wine, in
obedience to Jesus' command? You don't have to wait until they change their
tradition on this important occasion. Many of Jehovah's people are
celebrating the Memorial of Jesus' death with like-minded family members and
friends the way Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 11:20-29, either after
attending the one at the congregation location, or instead of it. (Matt.
15:6-9)
3/3/16
"Jehovah Knows Those Who Belong to Him"
(2 Timothy 2:19)
Can we know who belongs to Jehovah, and
thereby identify God's household? From the time of Abel to the present day,
Jehovah has always been "cognizant of those seeking refuge in him"; although
the world has not recognized them. (Nahum 1:7; 1 Cor. 8:3) Paul lists many
of God's faithful servants of ancient times; but since the writing of the
Bible was completed at the turn of the First Century, it obviously does not
give us the names of others who have belonged to Jehovah during the past
nineteen hundred years. (Heb. 11:4-40)
Along with the inauguration of the new
covenant on the day of Pentecost, the Christian congregation came into
being, of which Jesus is the head. (Eph. 4:15,16; 5:23-25) Early during his
ministry, Jesus selected his twelve apostles whom he entrusted with the
oversight of shepherding his sheep after his departure. (Matt. 10: 1-4; John
21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-4) Along with the formation of the early
congregations, there appeared an element of opposition to the apostles'
authority, such as Paul encountered in Corinth where he had to content with
the "superfine apostles," "false teachers," and "false brothers." (2 Cor.
11:5, 13,14, 26; Gal. 2:4-6; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-21; Rev. 2:2)
Were there any faithful Christians after the
death of the apostles, whom Jehovah would have acknowledged as belonging to
him? There was Polycarp, for example, who lived from 69 – 155 CE. He was
said to have been a disciple of the apostle John, and died a martyr, bound
and burned at the stake at the age of eighty-six. Polycarp is recorded as
saying on the day of his death, "Eighty and six years I have served Him, and
He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You
threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is
quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is
prepared for the wicked." On his farewell, he said, "I bless you Father for
judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may
share the cup of Christ."―Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI (1997). "St.
Polycarp". My First Book of Saints.
What is the Watchtower Society's view of
Polycarp? Do they allow that he belonged to Jehovah? In an article entitled,
The Apostolic Fathers—Truly Apostolic?, the Watchtower said:
"Polycarp was willing to die a martyr’s death rather than renounce his
Christian faith. It is reported that he was instructed by the apostles and
others who knew Jesus. He quoted from the Bible, and it appears that he
strove to live by Christian principles. The devotion that some had to
Polycarp, however, verged on idolatry. The Martyrdom of Polycarp states that
after his death, the 'faithful' were eager to claim his remains. They
considered his bones 'more precious than the most exquisite jewels, and more
purified than gold.' Clearly, the poisoned waters of error were surging."
(w09 7/1 p. 28) Note how the article says that the devotion that some
had to Polycarp "verged on idolatry"; and that on account of that devotion,
"the poisoned waters of error were surging."
Is that any different from what exists
today? Doesn't the Society's governing body encourage the "faithful" to
idolize them as the "faithful and discreet slave," a title that they have
come to apply to themselves? (Matt. 24:45) There is no record of Polycarp
ever having encouraged the faithful to idolize him, or address him by any
title. The "poisoned waters of error" have surged right up to the present
day, as is shown in another example. Consider Ignatius of Antioch, who was a
contemporary of Polycarp, and like Polycarp was instructed by the apostle
John. Ignatius met Polycarp in Smyrna, where Polycarp was an overseer. (See
Rev. 2:8-11) And like Polycarp, Ignatius too was faithful unto death, when
he was fed to wild beasts in the Roman arena. (Rev. 2:10) Do you think that
Jehovah might have recognized Ignatius as belonging to Him? Concerning
Ignatius, the same Watchtower said: "For his part, Ignatius
envisioned a new organization of the Christian congregation, with just one
bishop presiding 'in the place of God.' This bishop would hold authority
over many priests. Such inventions opened the way for further waves of
unscriptural teaching.—Matthew 23:8, 9." (Bold mine)
This vision of one bishop presiding in the
place of God and holding authority over many, became a reality within the
Watchtower Society, when its president Joseph (Judge) Rutherford united all
the congregations and elders under his authority and control, as "presiding
in the place of God" (not unlike the Roman Catholic pope). Later, the Board
of Directors of the Watchtower Society gained equal authority with the
President, constituting "the governing body." They claim their authority as
being from God, saying:
“It is vital that we respond to the
directions of the 'slave' as we would to the voice of God, because
it is His provision." (jv
p. 212; w57
6/15 p. 370)
True to Paul's prophecy regarding God's people in the time immediately prior
to Jesus' return, the governing body―as the "man of lawlessness"―is sitting
within "the temple of the God, publicly showing himself to be a god." But
his presence is neither from God nor Jesus, but "according to the operation
of Satan." (2 Thess. 2:3,4, 9,10)
Were Polycarp and Ignatius, and other early Christians like them, known by
Jehovah as belonging to him? Only Jehovah knows, as Paul says. Did they,
perhaps, in some way contribute to the apostasy that developed over the
following Centuries? One thing is certain, Jehovah knows those who belong to
him, and he protects them. In fact, their names are written in his "book of
life." (Mal. 3:16-18;
Rev. 3:5; 20:15)
2/17/16
"Jehovah of armies—he is the One whom you
should treat as holy, and he should be the object of your fear”
(Isaiah 8:13)
Who is your object of fear? In the first
century, the Jews feared their religious leaders and their fellow Jews,
which prevented them from following Jesus. The apostle John writes that "the
Jews had already come to an agreement that, if anyone confessed him as
Christ, he should get expelled from the synagogue." (John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42)
That threat is just as real today, for if anyone among Jehovah's people does
not accept all the teachings as presented by the Watchtower Society's
governing body; or refuses to acknowledge this small group of men as "the
faithful and discreet slave"; he may find himself expelled from the
congregation. (Matt. 24:45; NWT) But this should not surprise us! Jesus
himself forewarned us, when he said: "I have spoken these things to you that
you may not be stumbled. Men will expel you from the synagogue [Kingdom
Hall]. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine
he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things
because they have not come to know either the Father or me. Nevertheless, I
have spoken these things to you that, when the hour for them arrives, you
may remember I told them to you." (John 16:1-4; NWT) Yes, the hour has
arrived for many to be expelled (disfellowshiped) from the congregation by
men who have not come to know either the Father or Jesus! But do not fear
them! (Matt. 10:28-31)
The scribes and the Pharisees had "seated themselves in the seat of Moses,"
and as such presumptuously interpreted the Law given through Moses as they
saw fit; even viewing their own additions to the Law just as binding as the
One given them by God. In fact, their own laws often conflicted with God's
laws, since they failed to get the spirit behind God's laws. (Deut. 4:2;
Matt. 22:36-40) Thus, when on one occasion some scribes and Pharisees
complained to Jesus that his disciples were overstepping their tradition of
not washing their hands when about to eat a meal, Jesus replied: "Why is it
you also overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition? For
example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Let him that
reviles father or mother end up in death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his
father or mother: “Whatever I have by which you might get benefit from me is
a gift dedicated to God,” he must not honor his father at all.’ And so
you have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition." By
making God's word invalid, their worship was also invalid, in vain! (Matt.
15:1-9) Does that seem familiar?
We too have similar traditions, by which we have made God's word invalid!
And one tradition also has to do with something dedicated to God. For
example, the relationship of a husband and his wife is much closer than that
of a man and his parents. Concerning this, the Awake! magazine, in an
article on marriage said: "Jesus made clear that marriage was to be
permanent when he answered a question put to him about the propriety of
divorce. He stated: 'Did you not read that [God] who created them from the
beginning made them male and female and said, "For this reason a man will
leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will
be one flesh"? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore,
what God has yoked together let no man put apart.'” (Matt.19:4-6) Yet,
immediately after the above paragraph, it goes on to say: “It has rightly
been said that in the life of a Christian, marriage is second in
importance only to his or her dedication to God. The latter binds one to
the Creator forever, and baptism makes that publicly manifest. Marriage is
the public declaration of commitment to another person – forever. It is
unthinkable either to dedicate oneself to God or to forge a marriage bond
while having serious reservations. Therefore, those contemplating marriage
do well to examine carefully the prospective mate’s beliefs, goals,
attitudes, and disposition.” —Awake! 2/8, 2002 Marriage Should Be A
Permanent Bond, page 9. (Bold mine)
Is what the above article states scripturally sound? Is marriage second in
importance only to a person's dedication to God? There is no doubt about
what the Scriptures say about the sacredness of the marriage bond, as noted
in the article; but where is there any mention in the Scriptures of the
importance of a person's dedication to God; and that one's dedication takes
priority over one's marriage; or that baptism is a symbol of that
dedication? The Scriptures are clear that
baptism is for forgiveness of sins,
not about a person's dedication to God! (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Heb. 10:17,18,
21,22; 1 Peter 3:21)
The Watchtower, in an article entitled, "When Marital Peace Is
Threatened", further argued that absolute endangerment of spirituality also
provides a basis for separation. It said: "The believer in a religiously
divided home should do everything possible to take advantage of God’s
spiritual provisions. But separation is allowable if an unbelieving mate’s
opposition (perhaps including physical restraint) makes it genuinely
impossible to pursue true worship and actually imperils the believer’s
spirituality. Yet, what if a very unhealthy spiritual state exists where
both mates are believers? The elders should render assistance, but
especially should the baptized husband work diligently to remedy the
situation. Of course, if a baptized marriage partner acts like an
apostate and tries to prevent his mate from serving Jehovah, the elders
should handle matters according to the Scriptures. If disfellowshipping
takes place in a case involving absolute endangerment of spirituality,
willful nonsupport, or extreme physical abuse, the faithful Christian who
seeks a legal separation would not be going against Paul’s counsel about
taking a believer to court." (w88 11/1 22-3 When Marital Peace Is
Threatened) (Bold mine) Is it God's direction for a "baptized marriage mate"
to be disfellowshiped "in a case involving absolute endangerment of
spirituality," whatever that may involve? Should elders encourage, or even
support, a mate seeking a legal separation? (Compare 1 Corinthians 7:10-16;
1 Peter 3:1-7).
Like the scribes and the Pharisees, who not only opposed Jesus but
threatened the people with expulsion, so too God's people today face similar
opposition for obeying "God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:27-34, 38-42)
What should we do under present circumstances, when we become aware that
many of the Society's teachings are not based on the Scriptures, but rather
on Joseph Rutherford's interpretation of the Scriptures? Should we stand up
and correct the conductor of the Watchtower Study; or disrupt a meeting when
an obvious error is being presented as truth? Or, putting it another way: Is
it our responsibility to speak up in the congregation for what we believe to
be lies? That would certainly appear to be a fearless display of loyalty to
Jehovah and the truth. Yet, Jesus cautioned us to be careful, when he said:
"Look! I am sending you forth as sheep amidst wolves; therefore prove
yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves." (Matt. 10:16,17)
Jesus does not require us to be fearless sheep among wolves. He encourages
caution! But even more importantly, if you genuinely make Jehovah your
object of fear, then you will also want to be afraid of disobeying him when
he tells us that he has not appointed you or me as judges in the
congregation. Rather, "he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the
inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has
furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the
dead." (Acts 17:31; Matt. 7:1-5; James 2:10-13) Jesus is the one appointed
by God to judge not only God's people, but all mankind. (1 Peter 4:16-19; 2
Thess. 1:6-10)
Paul wrote instructions to Timothy regarding the appointment of overseers
and their assistants, ministerial servants, so that we "may know how [we]
ought to conduct [ourselves] in God's household, which is the congregation
of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:1-15) Since
the congregations belong to Jehovah, which are built upon the foundation
laid by Him―and who purchased all the members with the exceedingly precious
blood of his only-begotten Son―we sometimes fail to realize that if we find
fault with our fellow brothers, who are members of God's household, that we
are at the same time finding fault with Jehovah and his way of doing things.
(1 Cor. 7:23; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 2:19-22) The presence of "the man of
lawlessness" within God's temple does not reflect on Jehovah's own
righteousness, does it? Jehovah is holy, and he should be the object of our
fear. We give him the honor and fear when we remain faithful and obedient to
Him, and when we continue to trust in all his promises; including the
eventual removal of the wicked from within his household. May we continue to
pray, then, "all the time making supplication that [we] may succeed in
escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before
the Son of man." (Luke 21:36)
2/5/16
"Keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves
are."
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
It is
our human sinful inclination to make excuses for our weaknesses. Call it
pride, or perhaps disappointment in our own shortcomings, but all too often
we fail to acknowledge our mistakes or when we use bad judgment; even when
it is obvious to everyone else. When Samuel confronted king Saul for having
disobeyed Jehovah's command to devote the Amalekites to destruction―having
spared their king Agag and the best of the flock and herds of animals―king
Saul excused himself by saying, "But I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah in
that I went on the mission on which Jehovah had sent me and I brought Agag
the king of Amalek, but Amalek I have devoted to destruction." Saul excused
himself in saying that he had done God's will by going on the mission on
which God sent him; but he had failed to fully carry out the purpose of that
mission. Jehovah did not accept his lame excuse and the punishment was
severe for he rejected Saul from being king; after this having no further
dealings with him, although Saul had been his choice as the first
king over his people Israel. (1 Sam. 9:15-17; 15:1-23)
There is an important lesson for us in Saul's example, namely, we should
never take for granted our relationship with Jehovah and any blessings we
may be enjoying. Our continued friendship with the Most High depends on our
unswerving obedience. That is why Paul counsels us to keep testing as to the
person we really are. We may change over time, and so may our attitude
towards spiritual things.
We may become disheartened or even critical of Jehovah's way of doing
things, such as his tolerance of the man of lawlessness within his temple
and how his presence has been an obstacle for us to "worship with spirit and
truth." (2 Thess. 2:3-12; John 4:23,24) Our resentment or discouragement may cause us to drift away
when we may not even be aware of it, as our love for Jehovah and his word of
truth diminishes over time and gets replaced by other things.
How can we test ourselves as to whether we are still in the faith?
Perhaps you might ask yourself: Has my enthusiasm for the truth and the love
for all the brothers grown stronger, or is it diminishing? (2 Thess. 1:3;
Rev. 2:4) Is the sure promise of everlasting life still real to me? (Gal.
6:9) Does Jehovah still listen to my prayers, or does there seem to be a
"cloud" blocking my approach to him? (Lam. 3:44; Prov. 15:29) Have
material desires or pursuits lately been vying for more of my time and attention?
(Gal. 5:16,17) It is hard to carry on our struggle to remain strong and
focused on the reward ahead when we are immobilized by discouragement. We
may even feel condemned by what we perceive to be our own weakness.
The VOICE Bible, commenting on 2 Corinthians 13:5, says the
following: "Weakness looks like failure in the eyes of
the world, but for Paul weakness is an avenue to share in Jesus’ death and,
therefore, in His life as well. The challenge is to remain faithful even in
the difficult times, even when there is no one left to provide support. It
is in these times that God’s power and comfort are most evident. This call
to embrace weakness and suffering is difficult. It is normal to run from
pain. But the examples of Jesus in the Gospels, of Paul in his letters, and
of David in the psalms are of finding God’s strength in times of weakness."
We need God's strength if we are going to endure in walking on the cramped
road leading to everlasting life. (Matt. 7:13,14; 2 Peter 1:5-8) This is
especially true in view of what the Scriptures foretold regarding the
condition that would exist in our congregations in "the last days." Consider
whether Paul's words apply also to your own congregation, when he writes:
"But you must realise that in the last days the times
will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centred, greedy for
money, full of big words. They will be proud and contemptuous, without any
regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in
gratitude, purity and normal human affections. They will be men of
unscrupulous speech and have no control of themselves. They will be
passionate and unprincipled, treacherous, self-willed and conceited, loving
all the time what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. They will
maintain a facade of 'religion', but their conduct will deny its validity.
You must keep clear of people like this. . .
Persecution is inevitable for those who are determined to live really
Christian lives, while wicked and deceitful men will go from bad to worse,
deluding others and deluding themselves." (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 12,13; Phillips
New Testament)
When we are surrounded by such ungodly association as Paul mentioned to
Timothy, which
also existed in the Corinth congregation where Paul was going for his third
visit to deal with unrepentant sinners, it becomes clear
as to why we need to "keep testing whether [we] are in the faith," and to
"keep proving what [we] ourselves are," for Paul adds: "Or do you not
recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with you? Unless you are
disapproved." (2 Cor. 13:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:33,34) Someone once asked
Jesus, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Jesus answered by
saying, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because
many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." (Luke
23,24, NIV; Matt. 7:13,14, 21-23)
1/14/16
"Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm."
(James 1:6, CEV)
What do you think: Do you believe that God hears your prayers?
Maybe
Yes―Maybe No? (Ps. 145:18) Can we know and understand the truth of God's
Word? Maybe Yes―Maybe No? (John 4:23; 8:31,32) Does Jehovah have a
household today? or are God's people scattered throughout all religions?
Maybe Yes―Maybe No? (Heb. 3:6; 2 Cor. 6:17,18; Eph. 2:19; James 1:27) If
God does indeed have a household, and you discover that therein are false
teachers in positions of authority, should you leave or should you stay?
(2 Thess. 2:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Rev. 2:24) Does it matter to God whether or
not you exercise faith in Him? Maybe Yes―Maybe No? (Heb. 11:6)
It's not as if we cannot be certain about the answer to these questions; but
rather, it is a matter of accepting what God says in his inspired written
Word.
(John 17:14, 17-19)
We may begin to have doubts and start to question our own understanding of
things when we are faced with adversity, and when everything seems to go so
contrary to what we had believed and were in expectation of; like a storm
descending upon us. But that is not God's fault who foretold these things.
Perhaps our expectations were based on our faith in the teachings of the
false prophets; and as we have now come to see they were simply lies and
empty promises; with the consequence that we have become discouraged and
confused, resulting in our being tossed around like an ocean wave. But that
is all the more reason to "pay more than the usual attention" to God's own
Word. (Heb. 2:1-4; 1 John 4:1) Please understand that if this applies to
you, you are not alone. Many feel just as lost as you do―not just today, but
even back in the first century. To such ones the disciple James wrote:
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd
into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome
them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in
you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance
is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature
character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any
of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask
God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or
guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.
But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he
really wants God’s help or not. The man who trusts God, but with inward
reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one
moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive
anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal
instability at every turn." (James 1:2-8, J.B. Phillips New Testament)
When you ask Jehovah for help, be assured that he hears you. He doesn't make
you "feel foolish or guilty" for asking; so don't disrespect him by lack of
faith in his desire or ability to come to your aid; because if that were the
case, you won't receive anything from him. (Ne. 9:26; Ps. 74:18) Neither doubt that he has a people
for his name, because he has told us that he does; and if you are among his
people then you will definitely know it, just as Jehovah himself knows
everyone who
belongs to him. (Acts 15:12-14; 1 Tim. 3:15)
1/3/16
"To Jehovah Belong the Earth and that Which Fills it."
(Psalms 24:1)
As the nation of Israel was about to enter the land that God had given to
their forefather Abraham, but which at the time was occupied by
Canaanite tribes, Jehovah reminded them that "the earth and all that is in
it" belong to him. As the Creator and Owner, it was His to give to whomever he wished. It was no ordinary land, but a land "flowing
with milk and honey," "a land that Jehovah your God is caring for," and his
eyes were "constantly upon it, from the beginning of the year to the close
of the year." (Gen. 12:1,2; 13:14-17; Deut. 10:14; 11:8-12) The nation of
Israel needed to understand that their continued possession of this most
desirable land was conditional upon their obedience to God; and just as
Jehovah was about to annihilate the wicked Canaanites from the land, so he
would also rip his own people away from off its soil if they were to rebel against his laws
and the covenant they had entered into. (Deut. 29:10-13; 30:17-20)
The history of God's people, the Jews, is a record of continuous rebellion,
to the point where they became worse than the nations they had dispossessed.
In turn, Jehovah removed them from off the land, just as he had forewarned, and
scattered them among the nations. (2 Chr. 33:9; Deut. 28:63,64) Just why
should we be interested in these things that happened so many centuries ago?
(1 Cor. 10:11) Because we too need to understand that "to Jehovah belong the
earth and that which fills it." This simple basic truth is just as valid
today as it was in Abraham's day, for God has promised that "a little while
longer" and "the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will
indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalms
37:11, 29; Matt. 5:5)
We should not imagine that God lost interest in the land he had given to
Abraham, or somehow handed ownership of it to another people, after the
destruction of his temple in Jerusalem by the Romans―"the city that I have
chosen for myself to put my name there." (1 Kings 11:36) To demonstrate his
ongoing interest in "the land of Decoration" after the destruction of his
holy temple, and the scattering of the Jews among the nations; and to show
that it was with his permission that it took place just as he had foretold;
Jehovah prophesied what would happen to this land through the ensuing
centuries. He called the two powers who would vie for ownership of this land
the "king of the north" and the "king of the south"; and they would continue
their struggle over the land that belongs to Jehovah, right up until the
"time of the end." Daniel the prophet received the prophecy regarding the
two kings from the angel Gabriel, in order for "the people who are knowing
their God, [to] prevail and act effectively. And as regards those having
insight among the people, they will impart understanding to the many." And
yet, "some of those having insight will be made to stumble, in order to do a
refining work because of them and to do a cleansing and to do a whitening,
until the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed." (Dan.
11:32-35; 12:4, 9,10; 1 Peter 4:17-19)
The prophecy regarding the king of the north and king of the south is for
the purpose of strengthening God's people during the time of the end, when
the struggle of these two kings reaches their climax at Armageddon; for
"there will certainly occur a time of distress such as has not been made to
occur since there came to be a nation until that time. And during that time
your people will escape, every one who is found written down in the book."
(Dan. 2:44; 12:1; Mal. 3:16-18; Matt. 24:21,22; Rev. 3:5; 7:9, 13-17) The
prophecy regarding these two kings should instil in us the sort of faith in
Jehovah that will enable us to endure the present "critical times hard to
deal with"; as we have the assurance that Jehovah, "the Most High is Ruler
in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives
it." (Dan. 4:25, 34,35; 2 Tim. 3:1-7) At the present time, "the whole world
is [still] lying in the power of the wicked one." But Satan's rule and
influence will soon end, when Jehovah will give the earth to his people. (1
John 5:19; Rev. 20:1-3; 21:3-5)
For further information on "the king of the north" and "the king of the
south," see "Who
is the King of the North" in the
Question Box.
(1/3/16 -
7/6/16 )
http://perimeno.ca/Index_A.htm