WT 5/1/06 -Backing Away from 1914? - NO

by TheListener 33 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  TheListener

  Backing away from 1914? I think not.

  May 1, 2006 WT third study article on page 27, paragraph 2 and 3 state:

  "2. Almost 30 years after that Pentecost in 33 C.E., the apostle Paul confirmed that Christ had not yet taken full Kingdom power, but he was "at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet." (Hebrews 10:12, 13) Then, near the end of the first century C.E., the aged apostle John foresaw in a vision the Universal Sovereign, Jehovah, installing Christ Jesus as King of the newborn heavenly Kingdom. (Revelation 11:15; 12:1-5) From our vantage point in history, we can review the overwhelming evidence confirming that Christ began to rule as Messianic King in heaven in 1914.*

  3. Yes, since 1914 the good news of the Kingdom has taken on a thrilling new aspect. Christ has actively been ruling as King of God's heavenly Kingdom, although "in the midst of [his] enemies." (Psalm 110:1,2; Matthew 24:14; Revelation 12:7-12) Moreover, throughout the earth, his loyal subjects are responding eagerly to his authority by participating in a global Bible education program unequaled in mankind's history. (Daniel 7:13,14; Matthew 28:18) Spirit-anointed Christians, "sons of the kingdom," serve as "ambassadors substituting for Christ." They are loyall supported by a flourishing throng of Christ's "other sheep," who function as envoys of God's Kingdom. (Matthew 13:38; 2 Corinthians 5:20; John 10:16) Even so, we need to analyze whether we as individuals truly recognize Christ's authority. Are we unflinchingly loyal to him? How can we show loyalty to a King who rules in heaven? Let us first discuss, though, what reasons we have for being loyal to Christ.

  *See Reasoning From the Scriptures, "Why do Jehovah's Witnesses say that God's Kingdom was established in 1914? pages 95-7, published by Jehovah's Witnesses."

  This will be studied June 12 - 18, 2006. This is the WT study right before the 5/15/06 WT on "Are You Prepared for Survival?" that has been discussed recently on the boards.
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  moggy lover

  Interesting post, TListener, I wonder if what R Franz suggested in his COC is being heeded to.

  On pgs 217 - 219 [ie in my edition, which is the second printing 1985, pages may vary in other editions, but it is in the chap entitled "1975: Appropriate time for God to act"] he tells of an aborted WT article that was suggested to the GB and which was prepared by Klein, Schroeder, and Suiter. The essential point of the article was to split the significance of the 1914 date.

  Hitherto the date was used to imply the fullfilment of two simultaneous events: 1 The start of Jesus's rule in heaven [the end of the Gentile Times] 2 The beginning if the "Last Generation" during whose lifetime the world as we know it would end.

  This article argued for splitting this up. 1 The rule would be kept for 1914, [WW1, 607 BC and all that] but as for no 2: The generation need not be tied to this date. The article suggested 1957, evidently because with the launching of the Soviet "Sputnik" it ushered in the prophecy of Matt 24:29 telling of the "powers in the heavens being shaken"

  I have a sneeky feeling that is what the GB may start to hint at. In the Nov 1995 WT, the WTS effectively removed the problem of the 1914 generation. But because of the fortunate start of WW1 in 1914, they will keep that date for an indefinite period.

  Have the WTS misapplied Heb 10:12? I think so. "The right hand of God" signifies "Approval" not "Anticipation" Like the carnal-minded Jews of the 1st Cent, the WTS is expecting Christ to destroy fleshly and physical enemies, like the non-WT world. In fact the "enemies" that Christ is more concerened with are Sin, and the "Last Enemy" death.

  He has at this time, and since His resurrection, "Total Power" [Matt 28:18] and has been ruling since being in heaven, but will rule till sin and death will be done away with.

  Cheers
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  What-A-Coincidence

  regards to JW dates...they all wac anyway .... just like they say ... "we will know the exact fullfilment of scripture AFTER the damm things is fullfilled".... read your own damm writings and stop setting dates damit!!!! and stop getting ahead of the chariot. The WTS needs to remove all of their dates.
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  Deputy Dog

  Hmm
  

  I guess they don't know about this pasage?

  Ephesians 1:20

  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him

  at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

  KJV

  Ephesians 1:20

  with which he has operated in the case of the Christ when he raised him up from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above every government and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this system of things, but also in that to come. 22 He also subjected all things under his feet, (when he raised him from the dead) and made him head over all things to the congregation,

  NWT

  (Red added by me)

  D Dog
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  drew sagan

  It's an amazing paradox.
  The Watchtower teaching that everything is bible based, and if a teaching is no longer seen as taught in the Bible it is removed. BUT.....
  What if a teaching is not truely Bible based, but the membership has a DEEP PERSONAL ATTACHMENT to the teaching. Few teachings have such an attachement other than 1914.
  Since believing in 1914 dosn't bring Gods day of judgement one second closer, why believe it. Because 1914 helps ESTABLISH the Watchtowers authority, it allways has. If there was no 1914, there is no reason to believe 1919. If there is no 1919, you can see where this leads.
  Instead of simply changing what isn't seen as being taught by scripture, they instead are tied by all other such teachings that have become attached to the doctrine as well as the personal attachment the membership holds the teaching in.
  The more a religion has the less it REALLY DOES has.
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  benext

  As long as the WT can keep claiming things take place invisibally they can keep playing their 3 card monte game.
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  stillajwexelder

  agreed - 1914 can not be dropped without huge fallout - 1935 though is becoming increasingly untenable
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  zagor

  They can't back away from it. It would be like openly saying Jesus didn't come, hence we don't have any AUTHORITY over your lives and are therefore like any other wishful religion

  Would they ever say somehting like that?, I think not.
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  stillajwexelder

  but they can change their mind about the general calling having finished in 1935
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  candidlynuts

  Spirit-anointed Christians, "sons of the kingdom," serve as "ambassadors substituting for Christ." They are loyall supported by a flourishing throng of Christ's "other sheep," who function as envoys of God's Kingdom. (Matthew 13:38; 2 Corinthians 5:20; John 10:16) Even so, we need to analyze whether we as individuals truly recognize Christ's authority. Are we unflinchingly loyal to him? How can we show loyalty to a King who rules in heaven? Let us first discuss, though, what reasons we have for being loyal to Christ.

  have they ever used the wording " substituting for christ" before?

  thats.... unnerving.