:I believe that when a congregation would be lead by a group of anointed it would be blessed spiritually
It didn't work for the WTS. They have ALWAYS been lead by a group of the anointed and they have ALW>AYS been screwed up beyond belief.
Farkel
New anointed rejected by the WT-society
by Kosonen 37 Replies latest watchtower bible
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
I haven't seen that Botchtower yet, but I see a few immediate problems.
All the GB are "new anointed". None of them learned at the foot of Christ, or were around at Pentecost 33CE, or were around when John took his magic mushroom trip and wrote Revelation. Nor were any of them around to witness the enthronement of Jesus in 1914. Who are they kidding that they are "old anointed"?
Scriptures? Do they have scriptures to back up what they're saying? Of all the nonsense in Isaiah and Revelation and the rest of that storybook, can't they come up with some watchtowertastic anti-type?
Wouldn't the Pharisees have called Jesus "new anointed" that should be ignored? Didn't the "young prophet" get blessed with divine power and true prophecy, while "the old prophet dwelling in Bethel" was consumed with jealousy and plotted the death of the "young prophet"? Perhaps the "Governing Body", which is not scripturally supported, ought to step aside and make room for God's will... that is, if God has a will... that is, if there is a God.
B the X
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slimboyfat
I don't think there is an actual change in teaching because in paragraph 3 it affirms that the 'steward' comprises all the anointed: "So as this journal has often explained, the steward must represent the 'little flock' of anointed disciples as a collective body, or group." However the emphasis is very much on the fact that the Governing Body alone has authority to provide 'spiritual food': "Are all these anointed ones throughout the earth part of a global network that is somehow involved in revealing new spiritual truth? No. Although as a composite body the slave class is responsible for feeding the spiritual household, not all individuals of the slave class have the same responsibilities or assignments." (Paragraph 16) Knocked on the head is any idea that partaking of the emblems is somehow a way to 'get ahead' in the organization. People claiming to be anointed do not have any "special insights" nor do they "necessarily have any more holy spirit" than anyone else. But it gets worse for new would-be partakers. Not only is partaking not going to ensure a special position, but it will bring you under direct suspicion.
I think there are two key words in the penultimate paragraph that reveal the motivation for the article:
"What effect should the above facts have on the ever-increasing great crowd who hope to live on earth? As part of the King's belongings, they are happy to cooperate fully with the arrangements made by the Governing Body, which represents 'the faithful and discreet slave'. Members of the great crowd appreciate the spiritual food produced under the Governing Body's direction. But at the same time, while respecting the slave as a class, members of the great crowd are careful not to elevate any individuals who claim to be part of that slave. No Christian who genuinely receives the anointing with God's spirit would want or expect such treatment. -Acts 10:25, 26; 14: 14, 15."
It seems pretty clear the Governing Body is not happy about the rise in the number of people claiming to be anointed. They want to point out that claiming to be anointed in itself confers no special position or authority. They also want to generate suspicion in the congregations of any Witnesses newly claiming to be anointed, reminding them that they only "claim" to be anointed, and calling into question whether they do so "genuinely". The author of the article seems to be inviting congregations to scrutinize people who start partaking for signs of bad motives or looking for any "special treatment".
Against rhetoric as strong as that it is hard to see how anyone can now start partaking of the emblems without their character and motives being seriously called into question. Witnesses are already extremely adept at scrutinizing each other for adherence to Watchtower standards. With this thinly veiled invitation to doubt the motives of new partakers that process will go into overdrive.
Of course the extreme irony of the "Governing Body" of all people making the following statement will not be lost on anyone on this forum:
members of the great crowd are careful not to elevate any individuals who claim to be part of that slave
No one elevates themselves more than the Governing Body! However that jarring contradiction will no doubt be lost on most Witnesses who sit through the study.
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still_in74
Franz tauted for decades about his special little group, how the R&F couldnt know or be equal to the 144k - he LOVED the egotrip he got from it.
"no more replacements!" - of course not Freddie! No more people that are as special to Jehovah as you are! No! YOUR Jehovahs favourite WTS President - you know more than anyone!
These modern day GB Boys are no different. They cant seal the number so they invent new ways to make themselves retain the closed circle of power...
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yknot
It will eventually be a problem but for the next decade they will say that 'true anointed' never disagree with the GB Brothers.
"True Anointed" have record FS records and superfine standings in the KHs. Thus anyone claiming but not living up to the examples set forth by the GB will be dismissed as they have for YEARS.
A better and more long-term way would be to remove Rutherford's legalism from the Memorial. Making it a ceremonial remembrance in which all partake until the physical return of Christ. This would allow them to keep the 144,000 as a literal ruling class and give reason to stop counting the number of anointed. Thus the numbers shift only to attendance. It would to some extent also curb some anointment claims.
Yknot of the semantically anointed class
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StAnn
Excuse me, but I thought that several people were suddenly anointed to replace Ray Franz and the others who left at that time? That's what we wer told at my KH.
StAnn
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awaken2004
How in the hell does one come to the conclusion that they are annointed? Really! Have any of you ever met anyone that claims they are annointed?
Do they or did they seem a little off to you? Were any of them pompous self-righteous bastards?
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happpyexjw
Awaken, I knew three elderly sisters in rural NY, two of whom were "annointed." Both were very humble, sweet ladies. I never got any pompous attitude from either of them. We can disagree with the teaching without attacking individuals, can't we?
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Billy the Ex-Bethelite
So, would the "new anointed" be part of the old "evil slave" class? Sounds like troublesome divisions in "spiritual paradise"!
awaken2004 asks:
How in the hell does one come to the conclusion that they are annointed?
If you can eat the crackers and drink the wine at the Memorial without being struck dead by Hojovah... you are anointed!
Really! Have any of you ever met anyone that claims they are annointed?
Yes, many, including most of the GB.
Do they or did they seem a little off to you?
Many of the oldtimers were hard-working, kindly, sincere believers. Others, particularly Garrett Losch, seemed WAY off.
Were any of them pompous self-righteous bastards?
Ted Jaracz immediately comes to mind.
B the X
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Lost-In-Translation
As the Watchtower of Jan 15, 2008 states - the Governing Body has always stated that any "new" anointed ones should be "not newly converted ones, but individuals who—like the disciples to whom Jesus spoke when he initiated the Memorial observance—have already proved their loyalty to an extent."
I guess that many of the newly declared anointed are individuals that are newly converted and have not proved their loyalty. However,don't those standards go against the clear historical record of the Christian Greek Scriptures?
- How many of the thousands baptized and anointed in the 1st Century newly converted? All of them!
- How many of them had to prove their loyalty over a long period of time before their anointing? None of them!
The Governing Body continues to adopt a Western Corporate business standard on a religious organization. The standards mentioned in the Watchtower of January 2008 reads from a corporate manual and not from the Holy Scriptures. Is it not Jehovah God who does the anointing! What if Jehovah sees in a newly converted individual the qualities he wants of a King-Priest. Who are they to dictate to God that he cannot anoint a new person, or to state that no one should listen to what these new anointed ones say?
It seems the Governing Body is scared that these new anointed ones pose a threat to their authority somehow. Perhaps they believe that all these new ones who are professing to be anointed are actually lying or delusional. The GB might also see that the increase in new "anointed" ones is poisoning the faith of many that the perhaps these truly are not the "last days".
This "new light" from the GB sounds like a desparate cry to consolidate their power.
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w081/15pp.22-23CountedWorthytoReceiveaKingdom
CompletingtheForetold Number
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Not all 144,000 anointed Christians were selected in the first century. Their calling continued throughout the apostolic period and then apparently slowed down. However, it did continue throughout the succeeding centuries into modern times. (Matt. 28:20) Eventually, after Jesus began to reign in 1914, things moved ahead rapidly.First, Jesus cleansed the heavens of all vestiges of opposition to godly rule. (ReadRevelation12:10, 12.) Then he turned his attention to the gathering of the remaining prospective members of his Kingdom government so as to complete the number of 144,000. By the mid-1930’s, that task was evidently well along and many of those responding to the preaching work did not have the desire to go to heaven. The spirit was not bearing witness with them that they were sons of God. (Compare Romans 8:16.) Rather, they identified themselves with the “other sheep,” who have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. (John 10:16) Hence, after 1935 the thrust of the preaching work turned to the gathering of “a great crowd,” those whom the apostle John saw in vision and who would survive “the great tribulation.”—Rev. 7:9, 10, 14.
Even so, over the years since the 1930’s, a few individuals have been called to a heavenly hope. Why? In some cases, it could be that they replaced individuals previously called who had become unfaithful. (Compare Revelation 3:16.) Paul even spoke of personal acquaintances who had left the truth. (Phil. 3:17-19) Whom would Jehovah call to serve as such replacements? Of course, that is his decision to make. Still, it would seem reasonable that he would call, not newly converted ones, but individuals who—like the disciples to whom Jesus spoke when he initiated the Memorial observance—have already proved their loyalty to an extent.—Luke 22:28.
It seems, however, that not all who have been called to a heavenly hope since the 1930’s are replacements for ones who have fallen away. Jehovah has evidently made sure that we will have anointed Christians among us all through the final days of this system of things until the destruction of “Babylon the Great.” (Rev. 17:5)And we can be confident that the full number of 144,000 members will be completed in Jehovah’s due time and that all will eventually take their place in the Kingdom government. We can also believe the prophetic Word that the ever-growing great crowd will as a group continue to prove itself faithful. Soon it will “come out of the great tribulation” brought upon Satan’s world and will joyfully move on into God’s new world.