They can have the best of both worlds. It would be quite easy, with a bit of imagination, for them to simply adopt an interpretation of scripture similar to the Seventh Day Adventists belief about 1843. The SDA's teach that since 1843 Jesus has been engaged in an 'investigative judgment' upon Christendom, having entered into the 'inner sanctuary' of heaven (or something to that effect) on that date to receive special authority to do that. Jesus since then has used the SDA's as his favoured group of Christians. When it comes to the crunch all the Society has to do is make up a similar spin re 1914. They could easily bring out 'new light' to the effect that the Kingdom has not, after all, been reigning since 1914, but that this is still a marked year in bible prophecy because the 'parousia' still started in 1914 as evidenced through the 607 bible chronology and the 'composite sign' but Jesus has been present, not as a King, but in a type of investigative, judgment role, sifting the wheat from the weeds. All they need to do is change what the 'parousia' is about, ie, not about ruling as king but about arriving to appoint the FDS over all his belongings and releasing 'true Christians' from 'Babylonish captivity'. That way the Watchtower Society can shift a large part of the emphasis away from 1914 while retaining their special status as God's appointed channel since 1914. It would be a major doctrinal earthquake in the organisation and would no doubt cause quite a few to leave, but the great majority would no doubt swallow it wholesale, just as they gullibly swallowed the 'generation' shift in 1995! Piece of cake!!
How the Society can almost drop 1914 and STILL retain their authority
by yaddayadda 25 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Honesty
It would be a major doctrinal earthquake in the organisation and would no doubt cause quite a few to leave, but the great majority would no doubt swallow it wholesale, just as they gullibly swallowed the 'generation' shift in 1995! Piece of cake!!
Most would stay because they know that if they rock the Watchtower boat too hard the shunning will drive them insane.
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drew sagan
Back in the good old days Charlie, JFR or Freddy could whip up a great deal of whacked teaching, throw in some scriptures and impress the flock with all of the deep 'meaning'. All while showing how God was with them every step of the way. Believe it or not that actually made books that where actually over 192 pages full of this stuff!
During the past few years they have replaced every single one of their 'core' books, has anybody noticed what they are turning into? They have gone from long, drawn out explanations for complex doctrine and turned it into a comic book. I think allot of us are waiting for them to change some major doctrine. I just don't think it is going to happen. They are right where they want to be right now. Read the 'Bible Teach' book. That is who they are. They have already changed their doctrine, not by creating more explanations but by providing less. -
OnTheWayOut
I think they have a lot invested in their date, many would be stumbled by a change. I would examine the religion if your changes came about, and I might leave. OH WAIT. I did examine the religion when they changed an understanding about 1914. It took me some years, but I am leaving. Nevermind.
They will continue to make changes when they see them as necessary. It's apparent that they will stop waiting until the last minute to plan for these changes. Now they slowly introduce new light, so there's not an overwhelming reaction from JW's.
I have said: If they plan changes in doctrine, then they don't believe their own crap.
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stevenyc
How about this:
Keep the 1914 date but change the 3 1/2 years inspection to ...
Days for years of MONTHS
Yah, no kidding.
3.5 X 356 = 1,277.5
Convert to months
1,277.5 / 12 = 106.4
Therefore
1914 + 106.4 = 2020.4
Lookout, The Big A is on it's why !!!!!
steve -
heathen
really , why don't they just supply the white out .LOL
All they need to do is change what the 'parousia' is about, ie, not about ruling as king but about arriving to appoint the FDS over all his belongings and releasing 'true Christians' from 'Babylonish captivity'.
If I remember correctly the belief is that he is doing the seperating of sheep and goats or wheat from chaff at this time but that he began ruling as king too.
They have gone from long, drawn out explanations for complex doctrine and turned it into a comic book.
They still have long drawn out explanations just use alot more buzz words like in blondies reviews ,words like , likely , apparently .......
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Jeffro
stevenyc,
Days for years of MONTHS
Don't give them ideas. That's just the kind of drivel they would probably take seriously.
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Gregor
Imagine 'ol Nathan "Gee, I hope we're right about 1914, we bet the farm on it" H. Knorr right about now. Good thing he was long dead by 1995. He would have been real pissed at ol' Fred. Imagine a conversation about this if they were alive in the early 90's. The scene opens in Knorrs office. He has summoned Fred Franz, who is setting in front of his desk.
NHK: What the fuck, Fred? We're running out of time here! People BORN in 1914 are almost 80 years old! Let alone those that were 12. They're over 90, fer Chrissake! We've already stretched this thing to the breaking point. Now what?
FF: Yes, Yes. I know Nathan. But, I've got an idea. You know the original Greek word for "generation" is..
NHK: Don't start that original Greek shit with me, you dumbass!...we're in a bind here and I need some answers!
FF: Well, what I'm saying is, we could start running some articles in the 'tower about being faithful to the GB and, oh yeah!, some district convention talks and...well... kind of soften the fuckers up for a couple of years and then, wham! We tell them they have read too much into what was said before and that here's the straight dope. Then we put THEM on the defensive. Remind them about "no one knows the day and hour"... and "thief in the night" and all that good shit...
NHK: Are you serious? They'd run us out of town on a rail!
FF: Now wait a minute, Nate. We've been through this before. You can't kill these bastards with a stick! They'll buy whatever we tell them. The ones that don't, well, they either eat it and smile or we boot 'em! It'll be fine I tell ya'
NHK: Well, we don't have much choice do we, mister "1975"?
FF: Nate, come on, you said you wouldn't bring that up again.
NHK: Ok, you little fruit. Put something together and and we'll run it by the jerk jolly boys and see where it goes.
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SirNose586
Drop 1914? They'd have to start softening up the r&f for years!
Besides...they know it can look ridiculous, but people will still swallow it anyway.
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Leolaia
yaddayadda....Actually, this is what the Society has claimed happened in 1918, that Jesus "came into his heavenly temple," and began judging....voila, the Witnesses were chosen in 1919. See Rutherford's Light, Vol. 1 (ch. 2), from 1930, and his later book Preparation, from 1933.