According to the teaching of J.F.Rutherford the Holy Spirit was no longer needed once Jesus Christ 'came to the temple of Jehovah God' in 1918.
By his spirit, the holy spirit, Jehovah God guides or leads his people up to a certain time, and thus he did until the time when "the comforter" was taken away ... in 1918.
Preservation, 1932, pp. 193, 194.
...1918... in that year the Lord Jesus came to the temple of Jehovah God. The holy spirit that had been the guide of God's people, having performed its functions, was taken away... J.F. Rutherford, Salvation, 1939, pp. 216, 217.
In times past the holy spirit was the comforter and helper of God's people, and those brethren supposed to have the spirit of the Lord acted as teachers of the consecrated; but now, since the coming of Christ Jesus to the temple, Jehovah God and his great prophet, Christ Jesus, are the teachers... the faithful ones receive knowledge and understanding from the Word of God revealed to them through the Head of the temple organization.
J.F. Rutherford, Jehovah, 1934, p. 311. See further, The Watchtower, March 15, 1938, p. 89, 37: 1939 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, Daily Texts and Comments, October 6.
After Rutherford's death in 1942, N. H. Knorr, in the Watchtower of August 15, 1944 on page 252, "However, the holy spirit is not removed or taken away from the remnant." Since that time multiple publications of the Watchtower Society have reemphasize the one "holy spirit".
So that answers the first question, but what about the second question? Why was the Holy Spirit reinstated? If Christ 'came to the temple of Jehovah God" in 1918, which is still the teaching of the Watchtower Society, then what has changed? Was Rutherford wrong about there not being a need for the Holy Spirit after 1918?
If this teaching was wrong, a teaching from one who claims to be directed by God *, what's to say the teachings of today are right? Was God furnishing Rutherford false 'meat in due season'?
* Jehovah has caused greater light to shine upon his Word.... He has given meat to the household through the Head of the house of sons, Jesus.... the Scriptures are not of private interpretation. 1928 Yearbook of the International Bible Students Association, Daily Texts and Comments, Dec. 22.
Since the Lord came to his temple there have been flashes of lightning; that is to say, intermittent illuminations of the Word of God,... these flashes of light do not emanate from any member of the temple class, but from the Lord. It is Jehovah that is sending out his light and his truth,... IBID., May 14 . Emphasis in original. See further, The Watchtower, April 15, 1931, p. 116, 8, 9; Vindication III, 1932, p. 314.
God... furnishes them with meat in due season by revealing the meaning of his prophecies written long ago. The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1937, p. 349, 47.
... the meat in due season is a proper explanation of the Scriptures. J. F. Rutherford, The Harp of God, 1921, p. 237, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927 editions. This comment could not be found in the 1928, 1937 and 1940 editions of this book.
When and why was the Holy Spirit reinstated?
by bob1999 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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bob1999
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Lady Lee
Bob I have locked your other thread so that all your answers are in one place
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bob1999
Thank you..
I was having trouble with the format. -
AuldSoul
Excellent gems you have found, Bob!
How could any JW explain the Faithful and Discreet Slave believing it was NOT led by Holy Spirit after 1918 up until 1942 at the earliest? Thanks for this research.
Respectfully,
AuldSoul -
ozziepost
Nice points, Bob.
Which reminds me, downunder they have a Branch overseer who, in personal conversation, doesn't believe that the Australia Branch is led by the Holy Spirit. I kid you not.
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Atlantis
Great work Bob! Keep them coming!
Cheers!