“While the Bridegroom was delaying, they all nodded and went to sleep”
Matthew 25:5
I actually posted this earlier this evening, but after only 2 replies and about 15 reads the contents of the entire thread disappeared for some reason. So I'm reposting it under a slightly adjusted title.
In Amazing’s thread (entitled “2001 vs 1975” http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=17409&site=3) I found Erich’s reply to Simon especially interesting and insightful. I pulled it out of that thread in order to make a different topic out of it for what I think to be obvious reasons.
This is the comment and its reply that forms the basis for my thread here:
I believe that Erich made a very good point. I think that at this period in the history of the WTS that in some respects it's indeed in somewhat of a quandary, that is, a state of uncertainty or perplexity … and, that this is what was foretold even. I don’t mean that in a negative way at all, as many here who know my position can testify to, but I’m merely trying to diagnose the situation at hand in the light of the Bible and my personal experience with them both. The fact is, that just like Christendom, the WTS has anticipated the end of man’s system now for a long time. At first 1914, and it didn’t come. Then the brother’s looked forward to 1925 with the same hopes, but it didn’t happen then either. Then we had hopes of it happening in the mid-seventies, and yet it didn’t then EITHER. And it STILL hasn’t come about … even in spite of the fact that its now been a full 87 years since 1914 (the date assumed for Jesus having received the crown and along with it the start of time of the end). And yet it still SEEMS to the WTS, that exactly what Jesus had foretold at Matthew 24:7 surely has come to pass. But the end JUST KEEPS ON DELAYING! Why???!!! Of all things, in its eyes, that must be the single most perplexing big question facing the WTS right now in the year 2001. In the meantime the WTS has blown the end out of the “generation” of 1914, due to the reason that a literal generation has passed since that year without the end having came.I think everyone is getting tired. (by Simon)There you are !!!See Matt. 25:5 .
"While the bridegroom was delaying, they all nodded and went to sleep".
Note: ALL of the "virgins"... (by Erich)
Understandably, before yet comprehending that it’s a MISTAKEN belief in the first place to have assumed that Matthew 24:7 has already undergone fulfillment, there’s nothing left to do BUT be perplexed. Hence an inducement towards drowsiness. So, like you suggested, Erich, this may be the very thing that Jesus pointed to in his parable of the “ten virgins”. Of course Christendom’s churches have been saying for a long time too now that Jesus could come “at any moment”, and that “no other prophecies are left to be fulfilled”. So now, it appears, is the perfect time to expect that ALL the “virgins” (those who hope to rule with Christ) will be nodding off to sleep … with Jesus’ seeming delay providing the inducement to do so.
Until the present day and time, at no other time in the history of Christianity has all the pieces been in place in order to make it feasible for Jesus parable to truly find application. For example: It of course would be essential that the foretold 7th King make the scene first. Not only has THAT been realized, but there has been talk for years now of the creation of a global government; which upon being realized will fulfill the role of the 8th King of Bible prophecy. But before such an 8th King could be realized the 7th had to arise first (which is, btw, not the USA &GB), because the birth of the 8th depends upon the existence of the 7th … being that it “springs” from the 7th (one of “the seven”). So before the bridegroom arrives, and the “discreet” virgins are escorted into the marriage feast, even the 8th King has to be in place. Hence, it was impossible for Jesus’ parable to find application at anytime during the intervening centuries between the birth of Christianity and our day.
So while in sort of a “sleep”, because of not quite knowing what to make out of Jesus’ seeming delay, the WTS has the opportunity to reconsider its perception of the Bible with regards to certain doctrines … not the least of which by far is the one having to do with 1914, currently still believed as being taught in Daniel chapter 4. Now is the time for the WTS to appreciate the wisdom of Matthew 13:51-52, the reading of which I will quote here:
"Did you get the sense of all these things?" They said to him: "Yes." Then he said to them: "That being the case, every public instructor, when taught respecting the kingdom of the heavens, is like a man, a householder, who brings out of his treasure store things new and old."I deal with that passage and my concept of its meaning here---> http://4heavens.homestead.com/9.html
Of course the existing situation fits in all too well with an especially important prophecy as found at Daniel 11:35; a prophecy that to date has been misapplied by the WTS but nevertheless SPECIFICALLY addresses the big question of whether or not the “time of the end” has truly been in progress as claimed, and proclaimed around the world by the members of my particular faith ---> Jehovah’s Witnesses. O how relevant such a prophecy is to the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses! Particularly so in view of the fact that the WTS has believed and taught as being factual that the “time of the end” has now been in progress for over 87 years, beginning on a date which is derived from a faulty interpretation of Daniel 4.
So, once the WTS has corrected its doctrinal errors then the true time of the end can begin … since according to Daniel 11:35 that’s presently what is holding things up. Once the WTS has done that then God will trigger the one thing that leads to the events of Matthew 24:7 ACTUALLY unfolding. That “one thing” of course is the unleashing of his Son Michael (Jesus) upon Satan and his demon followers, ousting them from heaven. The “nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom” mentioned in Jesus’ prophecy will be as a direct result of Satan’s being confined to earth’s vicinity. In his frenzy to thwart God’s advancing purpose of having Michael shortly thereafter assume the reins-of-rulership over the earth, Satan, out of sheer desperation will stir up the nations in warfare with such intensity that the survival of the human race itself will be in question. (See Matthew 24:21, 22.)
The consequence: The complete collapse of the entire global system of things. This is pictured by the 7th head of the beast of Revelation 13 receiving its “death-stroke”, aka “sword-stroke”. But that is NOT Armageddon, as, at that point in time, it itself is yet a few years away. At THAT point and time the 8th King will have not yet made the scene. But once the governments get back upon their feet (as symbolized by the beast’s head healing of its death stroke) then figuring out a way to prevent what they had just went through from ever happening again will be at the top of their agenda, their very top priority. Yes, the nations will never EVER want to re-experience the calamitous woes that they will have just gone through, which, according to Satan’s design/intention, had indeed threatened even to exterminate mankind off the face of the earth. So, thinking that a one-world government (a global government; aka 8th King), to be the surefire solution for preventing a repeat performance of what the nations will have just gone through, the nations of earth will at that time, and with the greatest of seriousness and eagerness, entertain the “one thought” of concocting such a World Government. (Revelation 17:13, 17) Their “one thought” really means that they are in agreement with one another in what is considered to be needed in order to avoid any like catastrophe in the future, and to once and for all time secure “peace and security” for the planet upon which they must live. Such is not to say that the idea of a global government will not have been tossed around before, because it most assuredly has been, for several years now even. It’s just that nothing even remotely bordering on being as serious as what will happen at that future time will have ever happened prior to then so as to get the attention of all nations in a way that it will then at such a unique, cataclysmic time.
We are indeed approaching what will surely prove to be some very momentous times, first with the WTS refining its doctrines in fulfillment of Daniel 11:35; then with regards to the events that God will trigger after that happens, and which will finally lead to Armageddon. Armageddon’s purpose, of course, is to cleanse the earth of all who would commit idolatry by having accepted the “mark” of allegiance to the World Government, in place at that time. Because to receive the mark is tantamount to idolatry, in other words the WORSHIP of an idol, it’s for this reason that Revelation 14:7 with such relevance says:
”Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”Yadirf
Here are a few links having to do with global government:
---> http://www.wfm.org/congress/index.html
---> http://www.wfa.org/about/
---> http://www.wfa.org/index.html
---> http://www.upf.org/whatis/worfed.htm
---> http://www.worldfederalist.org/
---> http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~iac/fed.html
---> http://www.capitalresearch.org/fw/fw-0201a.htm
---> http://www.wfa.org/field/thoughts.html
All the above were found here, plus more:
---> http://auto.search.msn.com/results.asp?cfg=SMCINITIAL&srch=5&FORM=AS5&RS=CHECKED&v=1&q=World+Federalism
For your observation:
By Elizabeth A. Wood, WFA member.
Some national anthems are war-like. The U.S. national anthem speaks of "bombs bursting in air." The French national anthem urges the citizens "to arms." We need an international anthem that speaks of peace and togetherness. This International Anthem is sung to the tune of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (a.k.a. "America" and "God Save the Queen/King").An International Anthem
In peace we are as one.
We share one moon, one sun.
We share the stars.Our joys, our laughs and tears,
Our confidence and fears,
Our hope we share for future years,
This one world is ours.
Daniel 11:35 ... a KEY prophecy that must be fulfilled before the "time of the end" gets underway.