Doctrinal ramifications of large increase in 2008 memorial partakers?

by yadda yadda 2 80 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • yadda yadda 2
    yadda yadda 2

    The nearly 10% increase in partakers at the memorial in the 2008 annual service report is a huge increase. There were increases in the previous years too.

    This massive increase is no doubt attributeable to the 'new light' this year that the calling of the 'heavenly class' was not closed in 1935, as previously taught. The new understanding this year is that the calling of the 'anointed' class is 'evidently' still open. Because of this shift in understanding, many apparently chose to take the emblems this year who otherwise may not have, hence the big increase in partakers.

    What are the doctrinal ramifications of this?

    Further 'new light' this year concerning the 'generation' is that the generation is the 'anointed class' since 1914. Jesus said that this generation would 'by no means pass away' until the end comes. The clear implication from this is that the generation would dwindle, gradually decrease in number, as they got older and died. But now the opposite of this is happening: the 'generation' is increasing by significant proportions? If this continues for the next few years, what does this mean for the new light about 'this generation'?

    If this trend of big increases in partakers continues, do you think the Society will be forced to revisit whether the 144k is a literal or symbolic number?

    Will they have to revisit whether the great crowd are in the 'new covenant' and should partake?

    Or will nothing change and the Society will just ignore the growing numbers of JW's scratching their heads over this and asking questions?

    yadda

  • J-ex-W
    J-ex-W

    Does anyone have a scan of the article where they said the heavenly class was not closed in 1935?

  • still_in74
    still_in74

    first off..... the change in the 1935 bit was 2007.

    the change to the generation was this year officially, but this was announced at the annual meeting in Sept 2007.

    as for the generation, it is the 144k, not the 144k "since 1914" - just the 144k/remant.

    as for growth, it means nothing now. Jehovah has been so kind to bless us with annointed right into the NS. Growth means nothing as there is no closing and no connectivity to a date, there is also the point the WTS was so kind to make about there always being annointed with us...

  • passwordprotected
    passwordprotected

    I'm convinced they'll need to overhaul the "144k is literal" doctrine.

  • GermanXJW
    GermanXJW

    The Watchtower of Feb 15th, 2009 clearly states on p. 28 that the number of annointed has been decreasing over the years...

  • treadnh2o
    treadnh2o

    Expect a watchtower study to be inclusive of the thought that some of these partakers are not genuine (apostates? or mentally unstable) and attempts have people "rethink" think their anointed status.

    Also, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a psychological "out" in attempt to reduce guilt. Something along the lines of Jah' forgives

    Otherwise it may go up in 2009


    The other thought I had is that elders may be given latitude not to count someone under extreme circumstances. That may be a stretch though.

  • oompa
    oompa
    German: The Watchtower of Feb 15th, 2009 clearly states on p. 28 that the number of annointed has been decreasing over the years...

    Well that would be a frikkin lie over the last three years or so....and wt never lies...so you must be mistaken German...lol.....page number please, and if there has been a thread on this a link please........thanks.......oompa

  • blondie
    blondie

    Elders don't count unbaptized people and df'd or da'd people.

    I have heard that some congregations don't count a newly baptized person the first year they partake and the follow up with a discussion with that person.

    *** w07 5/1 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers ***

    When does the calling of Christians to a heavenly hope cease?

    The Bible does not reveal a precise answer to that question. We do know that the anointing of Jesus’ disciples with a view to their heavenly inheritance began in 33 C.E. (Acts 2:1-4) We also know that after the death of the apostles, genuine anointed Christian "wheat" came to "grow together" with counterfeit Christians, "weeds." (Matthew 13:24-30) Then, starting in the late 1800’s, anointed Christians were again prominently active. In 1919 "the harvest of the earth," including the gathering of the final ones of the anointed, began to be reaped.—Revelation 14:15, 16.

    From the late 1800’s until 1931, the main thrust of the preaching work was the gathering of the remaining members of the body of Christ. In 1931 the Bible Students took the Bible-based name Jehovah’s Witnesses, and in the November 15, 1933, issue of TheWatchtower, the thought was expressed that this unique name was the "denarius" referred to in Jesus’ parable recorded at Matthew 20:1-16. The 12 hours mentioned in the parable were thought to correspond to the 12 years from 1919 to 1931. For many years after that, it was believed that the call to the heavenly Kingdom had ended in 1931 and that those called to be joint heirs with Christ in 1930 and 1931 were "the last" called. (Matthew 20:6-8) However, in 1966 an adjusted understanding of that parable was presented, and it became clear that it had nothing to do with the end of the calling of the anointed.

    In 1935 the "great crowd" of Revelation 7:9-15 was understood to be made up of "other sheep," Christians with an earthly hope, who would appear on the world scene in "the last days" and who as a group would survive Armageddon. (John 10:16; 2 Timothy 3:1; Revelation 21:3, 4) After that year, the thrust of the disciple-making work turned to the gathering in of the great crowd. Hence, especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly call ceased in 1935. This seemed to be confirmed when almost all who were baptized after 1935 felt that they had the earthly hope. Thereafter, any called to the heavenly hope were believed to be replacements for anointed Christians who had proved unfaithful.

    Without a doubt, if one of the anointed unrepentantly falls away, Jehovah does call another individual to take his place. (Romans 11:17-22) However, the number of genuine anointed ones who have become unfaithful is likely not large. On the other hand, as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.

    How should a person be viewed who has determined in his heart that he is now anointed and begins to partake of the emblems at the Memorial? He should not be judged. The matter is between him and Jehovah. (Romans 14:12) However, genuine anointed Christians do not demand special attention. They do not believe that their being of the anointed gives them special "insights," beyond what even some experienced members of the great crowd may have. They do not believe that they necessarily have more holy spirit than their companions of the other sheep have; nor do they expect special treatment or claim that their partaking of the emblems places them above the appointed elders in the congregation. They humbly remember that some anointed men in the first century did not qualify to serve as elders or ministerial servants. (1 Timothy 3:1-10, 12, 13; Titus 1:5-9; James 3:1) Some anointed Christians were even spiritually weak. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) And sisters, although anointed, did not teach in the congregation.—1 Timothy 2:11, 12.

    Hence, anointed Christians along with their other sheep companions strive to stay spiritually strong, cultivating the fruitage of the spirit and working for the peace of the congregation. All Christians, whether anointed or of the other sheep, work hard at preaching the good news and making disciples under the direction of the Governing Body. Anointed Christians are content to do this for as long as it is God’s will that they remain on earth as Jehovah’s servants.

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    Decreasing???????? After nearly 20 years of holding around the 8500 range (I have never seen that number drop below 8,000), it is climbing toward 10,000. That sure looks like a big decrease!

  • Philippus79
    Philippus79

    There is one "trick" to keep the 144k literal:

    They come up with the understanding that not all Christians in the first century were part of the 'annointed class'. Basically there we people called into the Great Crowd also in the first century. After all, not everyone had the gifts of the spirit...

    Phil

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