Did the heavenly calling cease in 1935? Not anymore!

by AnnOMaly 288 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  blondie

  Cab, remember the WTS always backdates the explanation of prophecies that they are only understood while in the process of fulfillment or even several years afterwards. Look at volume 1 of the Vindication book where the WTS says they started explaining that Ezekiel 9 did not apply to looking for the anointed.

  Do I think that the rank and file understood that to mean that some of them were not anointed, no. Until 1935, the WTS members I knew who lived then were partaking between 1931 and 1935. Some stopped partaking with the strong "encouragement" in 1935.

  Blondie
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  The Governing Body demands special attention.
  
  The Governing Body believes that their being of the anointed gives them special "insights" beyond what even some experienced members of the great crowd may have.
  
  The term "faithful discreet slave class" is not mentioned once in the article. The term other sheep is back without quotes.
  
  The term great crowd is not in quotes again after the first line of the third paragraph where it says "In 1935 the "great crowd" of Revelation 7: 9-15 was understood . . ."
  
  It says "All Christians, whether anointed or of the other sheep, work hard . . . under the direction of the Governing Body."
  
  WOW!

  WOW indeed. It is some major change this year. The article itself is supposed to kick off a buzz of questions, so they
  can act like they have all the answers when it is revealed fully.

  I'm sticking with Gary, saying they won't count partakers anymore, the rest is tough to call.

  Too bad the average drones will just say "Isn't the new light wonderful?"
• 

  garybuss

  It's a BIG article but here's the core of it.

  ***************
  
  The Watchtower Nov 15, 1933
  pp 342
  
  
  14 Those standing idle answered: "Because no man
  hath hired us." Satan by his instrument the "evil
  servant" had not yet induced these idle ones to oppose
  the Lord's witness work. It was by the September 15
  (1930) Watchtower that "the man of sin" was first
  identified by the Lords anointed people. The Society's
  publications continued to call attention to the
  increased opportunities of service, and many more
  entered into the service from that time forward. Thus
  the Lord brought more into the covenant for the king-
  dom and into his service. The work so enlarged that
  by December, 1930, 150 radio stations began broadcasting
  by electrical transcription the kingdom message,
  and the house-to-house work of carrying the
  message in printed form to the people was greatly
  increased. In the year 1930-1931 in the United States
  and dependencies the monthly average of pioneers and
  auxiliary workers was 2,272 regularly reporting in
  the vineyard. By the end of 1930 Jehovah's people
  began to realize that the vindication of Jehovah's
  name is the all-important thing, and, this being emphasized
  in the publications Prophecy and Light and
  Vindication, those engaged in the service at the "eleventh
  hour" could hardly have had hire or wages in
  mind, but the great inducement for them to enter and
  continue in the vineyard work was to have a share
  in the vindication of Jehovah's name.
  
  PAY DAY
  
  15 Thus the facts well known to have been brought
  to pass from 1919 to 1931 exactly correspond with
  the hours of the day mentioned in the parable. Jehovah's
  law required laborers to be paid off at the
  close of the day's work. (Lev. 19: 13) The Householder,
  of course, would proceed according to his own
  law; therefore the parable continues: "So when even
  was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his
  steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire,
  beginning from the last unto the first." (Matt. 20: 8)
  Paying the laborers at the end of the day would not
  mean that there was no more work to be performed.
  The parable fulfilled concerning the pay day, therefore,
  does not mean that the work in the vineyard had
  come to an end. Rather does it show that those who
  receive their wages with gladness and appreciation
  are the ones to whom, from that time on, the Lord
  assigns the work of finishing the testimony and doing
  the work from then till and at the battle of Armageddon.
  
  16 The penny or denarius symbolized a valuable
  thing received from the hands of the householder, Jehovah,
  as the hire, wage or reward, and is not such
  as is earned and as might by right be demanded. At
  least, this surely would be the rule concerning those
  who work during the "eleventh hour"; but all that
  was paid was and is a gracious gift bestowed by the
  Great Householder upon those who had rendered service
  in his vineyard, This hire or wage is paid to the
  workers while they arc on earth, and not after they
  get into heaven. The hire is paid at some specific time
  during the activity of bringing forth the fruits of
  the kingdom. All who are actively engaged in the
  vineyard service of the Lord at the close of this specific
  period receive the same amount, to wit, a penny,
  regardless of how long they have been employed in
  the service of the Lord. <snip>
  
  
• 

  garybuss

  You wrote: So, were there any clear statements in WT literature that said the call ended in 1931?

  Let God Be True . . . sort of clear
• 

  cabasilas

  Thanks, Gary! I checked the 1946 edition of Let God Be True and found it here on page 298:
  
  
  11 God having a fixed time for every purpose
  (Ecclesiastes 3 : 1), his time to give creatures
  on earth the opportunity to get in line for a
  heavenly reward has been from A .D. 29 until,
  chiefly, 1931, called the "day of salvation" .
  (2 Corinthians 6 :2) It began with Jesus at
  Jordan and is now rapidly passing away . During
  this time the heavenly hope was made
  known to all who consecrated themselves to
  God. But, since "flesh and blood cannot inherit
  the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15 :50),
  such consecrated ones would have to be brought
  forth as God's spiritual sons, begotten of his
  spirit to a heavenly hope, before God could give
  them such a glorious reward .
• 

  darth frosty

  Wow this is some serious B.S. I always thought that the 1935 anointed thing would do them in as time passed but I forgot that they can just change what the say or ment.
• 

  blondie

  *** w63 4/1 p. 200 Commemorating Christ’s Death ***

  Particularly were those of this heavenly class called prior to 1931, during which time God held out only a heavenly hope to dedicating Christians. Those who have this hope should partake. But those whose hope is one of everlasting life in an earthly paradise, also promised in God’s Word, clearly should not partake; for they are not in the new covenant nor in the covenant for the Kingdom.

  *** w61 3/15 p. 166 Should You Partake of the Lord’s Evening Meal? ***

  Then, beginning in the 1870’s, God began to gather these together, and in 1919 began the fulfillment of Matthew 24:31, which says: "And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet-sound and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity." The facts show that at that time the call went out for more workers in God’s vineyard. This call continued until 1931, when, at the end of the "day’s" work in the vineyard, all the workers received their reward, the denarius, the name Jehovah’s witnesses.—Matt. 20:1-16.

  *** w55 12/1 p. 709 Part 23—Expanding with a Trained Ministry ***

  Next, over a period of 1900 years from Pentecost A.D. 33 to 1931, the "little flock" of 144,000 anointed ones were called out and unified in organized relationship to Jehovah as His witnesses. (Luke 12:32; John 17:21)
• 

  garybuss

  This is gonna throw a cloud on the judging teaching too. The other sheep are back in print and the sheep, aka, little flock are still being judged and selected and admitted to the sheep pen bound for the heaven bus.
  
  That means the judging is still going on. Me thinks they are pulling on the thread that unravels.
  
  Thinking. . . . .
  
  
• 

  cabasilas

  Thanks, Blondie! Those are great quotes.
  
  So, it appears they want to distance themselves from both 1931 and 1935. Is there more to come? I'm wondering if that will be detailed at the summer assemblies...
• 

  stillajwexelder

  Pure speculation here - methinks Great Crowd will become full members of the Governing Body sometime soon - probably this year