Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-28-10 WT Study (January 15, 2010, pages 24-28)(SATAN RULING)
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SATAN'S WAY OF RULING SURE TO FAIL "It will not turn out well at all with the wicked one.--ECCL. 8:13
OPENING COMMENTS
Wherever I say WTS I mean the administration of the non-corporation, non-company part of the jw organization, those
who make the scriptural policies and doctrines that the rank and file are required to follow.
Who is really going to be ruling per the WTS: Jesus and anointed Christians when in heaven....why then the emphasis
on God's rule?
START OF ARTICLE
Q1. Why is the coming judgment of the wicked comforting news?
SOONER or later the wicked will have to be brought to justice. They will have to answer for what they have done. (Prov.
5:22; Eccl. 8:12,13) That is comforting news, especially for those who love righteousness and who have suffered
injustice and mistreatment at the hands of the wicked. Foremost among the wicked who will be brought to justice is the
father of wickedness, Satan the Devil.--John 8:44.
COMMENTSWho are the wicked according to the WTS? Who only will not be destroyed?
Is it comforting news to want all 7 billion non-jws, men, women, and innocent children to be destroyed eternally?
The WTS teaches that only jws "love right."
Yet Satan will live 1,000 more years after the destruction of these "wicked."
QUOTES"Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the
protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system
dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep. 1 p.19
"Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly
Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb. 15 p.12
"Is it presumptuous of Jehovah's Witnesses to point out that they alone have God's backing? Actually, no more so than
when the Israelites in Egypt claimed to have God's backing in spite of the Egyptians' belief, or when the first-century
Christians claimed to have God's backing to the exclusion of Jewish religionists." Watchtower 2001 June 1 p.16
"During the final period of the “ancient world” that perished in the Flood, Noah was a faithful “preacher of
righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5) In these last days of the present system of things, Jehovah’s people are making known
God’s righteous standards and are declaring good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world. (2 Peter
3:9-13) Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on
their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization." Watchtower 2006 May 15
p.22 "Are You Prepared for Survival?" Paragraph 8
(and many more quotes at this site)
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/salvation-only-for-jehovahs-witnesses.php
Q2. Why was time needed to settle the issue raised in Eden?
Back in Eden, Satan, consumed by feelings
of self-importance, caused humans to
reject Jehovah’s way of governing. As a result,
our first parents joined Satan in challenging
Jehovah’s rightful authority and became
sinners in His sight. (Rom. 5:12-14) Of
course, Jehovah knew how their disrespectful
and rebellious course would turn out for
them. However, that inevitable outcome
had to be made obvious to all intelligent
creatures. Hence, time was needed to settle
the issue and to demonstrate convincingly
that the rebels were utterly wrong.
COMMENTSSo how does the WTS know what Satan's feelings were and are?
Did Satan "cause" Adam and Eve to do anything or was it their personal choice?
Why has it taken 6,000 years (per WTS) and more (considering that Jesus and the angels had lived long before humans) to prove to Jesus, the angels, Satan, his followers, and every human who has ever lived on earth?
According to the WTS those who died during the flood and at Sodom and Gomorrah have already received judgment and eternal destruction. It did not take 6,000 years for them.
Q3. What is our position toward human governments?
3 Since humans rejected Jehovah’s oversight,
they had to set up their own forms of
government. The apostle Paul, writing to fellow
believers in Rome, spoke of such human
governments as “the superior authorities.”
In Paul’s day, the superior authorities
were primarily the government of Rome
under Emperor Nero, who ruled from 54-
68 C.E. Paul said that such superior authorities
“stand placed in their relative positions
by God.” (Read Romans 13:1, 2.) Does that
mean that Paul was advocating human rule
as superior to God’sway of governing? By no
means. Rather, he was simply saying that as
long as Jehovah allows human rulership
to exist, Christians should respect “the arrangement
of God” and accept such rulers.
COMMENTSWhy does the WTS jump to the time of 54-68 C.E. rather than right after Adam and Eve were tossed out of Eden?
What were the human governments then? Doesn't the WTS teach that the first real human government started with
Nimrod after the flood?
Christians - only nonjws
Until 1929 the WTS taught that human governments were the "superior authorities" spoken of in Romans 13:1,2. But
from 1929 to 1962 the WTS taught that it referred to God and Jesus. Why the flipflop; where was the holy spirit in this?
Up to 1929Evil as these Gentile governments have been, they were permitted or "ordained of God" for a wise purpose. (Rom. 13:1) Studies In the Scriptures Series I - The Divine Plan of the Ages p.250
1929 to 1962"The Superior Authorities are the Most High God Jehovah and his exalted Son Jesus Christ." This Means Everlasting Life (1950) p.197
1962 onward"The Expression "superior authorities" means the political governments or authorities." Life everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God (1966) p.189
Why did the WTS (Rutherford) change the doctrine in 1929?
From 1929 to 1962 the "superior authorities" became "the Most High God Jehovah and his exalted Son Jesus Christ".
Rutherford used the 1929 position on higher authorities to justify:
consuming alcohol during the United States prohibition ("God never authorized a prohibition or any other sumptuary law
to control the consciences or actions of others." w29 p.121)
to prevent Bible Students doing civilian military service ("For this reason the Bible Students devoted to the Lord refuse
to take military service, because they are true followers of Christ and must obey God's law." w29 p.117)
to ban flag salutes.
Additional information here:
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/superior-authorities.php
A PATH LEADING TO DISASTER
Q4. Explain why human rule is bound to fail.
4 Still, human rule influenced by Satan is
certain to fail.Why? For one thing, because
it is not based on divine wisdom. Only Jehovah
possesses perfect wisdom. Thus, he is
the only reliable guide as to what constitutes
successful rulership. (Jer. 8:9; Rom. 16:27)
Unlike humans, who often learn by trial and
error, Jehovah always knows the best possible
way to act. Any governmental arrangement
that does not follow his guidance is
bound to be inferior. For that reason alone
—not to mention the wicked motive involved—
Satan’s alternative way of governing
by means of human rule was sure to fail
from the start.
COMMENTSHow many nonjws realize that the WTS teaches that all human governments are influenced by Satan?
I always wondered if God has perfect wisdom, why did he not at least inform Adam and Eve of the possibility of being
mislead by other "sons of God"? How successful was human rule influenced by God in the case of the nation of
Israel? How many kings were "faithful" and how faithful were their subjects?
Q5,6. What apparently led Satan into his course of opposition to Jehovah?
5 A sensible person generally refrains
from embarking on an endeavor that is
doomed to fail. If he insists on going ahead
with his endeavor, he will be forced to recognize
his error. History has proved many
times over that it is useless to stand in
opposition to the almighty Creator. (Read
Proverbs 21:30.) Satan, however, blinded
by feelings of self-importance and pride,
turned his back on Jehovah. Thus the Devil
plunged headlong onto a path that could
end only in disaster.
COMMENTSDoomed by whom? Has the WTS recognized their errors? Have they gone ahead with similar endeavors? 1874 or 1914, 1914 generation, 1925, 1975....Perhaps their feelings of self-importance and pride led them into paths of disaster....
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php
"apparently"--the WTS reads things into the bible using such words
6 Satan’s presumptuous attitude was later
reflected by a Babylonian ruler who is recorded
as boasting: “To the heavens I shall
go up. Above the stars of God I shall lift up
my throne, and I shall sit down upon the
mountain of meeting, in the remotest parts
of the north. I shall go up above the high
places of the clouds; I shall make myself resemble
the Most High.” (Isa. 14:13-15) That
ruler’s senseless undertaking failed, and the
Babylonian dynasty came to an inglorious
end. Similarly, Satan and his world will soon
go down in total defeat.
COMMENTSWho has proven presumptuous in making their members go through them to have a relationship with God and Jesus?
SOON--since 1914, the WTS has been saying this, 96 years, even Jeremiah only preached 40 years.
his (Satan) world--all non-jws, 7 billion men, women, and innocent children.
WHY PERMITTED?
Q7,8. What are some benefits from Jehovah's allowing wickedness to exist for some time?
7 Some may wonder why Jehovah did not
prevent humans from taking sides with Satan
and from following an alternative plan
for governing that was certain to fail. As God
Almighty, he could surely have done so. (Ex.
6:3) Nevertheless, he held back. His wisdom
dictated that temporarily refraining from interfering
in man’s rebellion would in the
long run work out for the best. Eventually,
Jehovah would be vindicated as being a righteous
and loving Ruler, and faithful humans
would benefit from God’s decision.
COMMENTSHow many jws know that for many, many years the WTS taught that it was God's name that was to be vindicated not
sovereignty? When and why did that doctrine change?
Temporarily refraining??? Over 6,000 years and counting per their chronology........yet why did God step in at the flood
and Sodom and Gomorrah and execute eternal judgment?
8 What misery could have been spared the
human family if humans had rejected Satan’s
advances and refused to strike out for
independence from God’s rule! Still, Jehovah’s
decision to allow humans to rule
themselves for a time has had benefits. It has
deeply impressed on righthearted individuals
the wisdom of listening to God and of
trusting in him. Over the centuries, humans
have experimented with numerous kinds of
governments, but not one of them has
proved to be ideal. That fact has served to
strengthen worshippers of God in their conviction
that Jehovah’s way of governing is
indeed best. Granted, Jehovah’s permission
of Satan’s wicked rulership has resulted in
hardships for mankind, including for those
who faithfully worship God. Still, the temporary
permission of wickedness has also
resulted in benefits for these faithful worshippers.
COMMENTS So where did the misery come from....illness and death? Why did Adam and Eve and others before the flood live
almost 1,000 years but humans afterwards only 120 at the most? Have all humans had input as to how they were
ruled? What about the human rule with God's backing...the Israelite kingdom...were they ruling themselves, no, God
supposedly was, yet it failed.
those who faithfully worship God...faithful worshippers...only jws
A REBELLION THAT HAS SERVED TO GLORIFY JEHOVAH
Q9,10. Explain how Satan's rule results in Jehovah's glory.
9 Allowing humans to be influenced by Satan
and to rule themselves has in no way discredited
Jehovah’s way of governing. On
the contrary! History proves that Jeremiah’s
statement, uttered under inspiration,
about the inability of humans to govern
themselves is correct. (Read Jeremiah 10:23.)
In addition, Satan’s rebellion has given Jehovah
an opportunity to demonstrate His
fine qualities in a more pronounced way.
How so?
COMMENTSAllowing humans...were people on earth aware of a spirit creature...did God tell them? Did Adam and Eve know that it
wasn't a snake talking to them? Did God tell them?
How did God demonstrate his "fine" qualities? Why was David allowed to live after committing adultery and then
murder to cover it up although the Law required his execution? What about another man living at that time, was there a
basis for mercy under the Law for deliberate murder for him?
10 Against the backdrop of Satan’s disastrous
rule, Jehovah’s perfect qualities are
even more obvious than they otherwise
might have been. In this way, he has been
magnified in the eyes of those who love
him. Yes, paradoxical as it may sound, Satan’s
way of governing has in reality served
to glorify God. It has highlighted the superlative
way in which Jehovah has dealt with
this challenge to his sovereignty. To illustrate
that truth, let us briefly consider some of Jehovah’s
qualities and see how Satan’s wicked
rule has moved Jehovah to show these
qualities in additional ways.
COMMENTSDoes God = sovereignty or does God = love
Q11. How had Jehovah's love been manifested?
11 Love. The Scriptures tell us that
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8) The creation
of humans was, in the first
place, an expression of God’s love.
Furthermore, the fear-inspiring and
wonderful way in which we are
made bears witness to God’s love.
Jehovah also lovingly provided humans
with a beautiful home containing
everything necessary for their happiness.
(Gen. 1:29-31; 2:8,9; Ps. 139:14-16) But once wickedness
was introduced into the human family, Jehovah
expressed his love in new ways. How? The apostle
John quotes Jesus as saying: “God loved the world so much
that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order
that everyone exercising faith in him might
not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16) Could God have shown his love
for mankind in a more remarkable way than
by sending his only-begotten Son to earth in
order to ransom sinners? (John 15:13) This
great demonstration of love also served as a
pattern for humans, giving them the opportunity
to reflect God’s self-sacrificing love in
everyday life, even as Jesus did.—John 17:
25, 26.
COMMENTSgave his son...but remember, Jesus volunteered he was not forced
doesn't the WTS also say that Jesus played a large part in providing this home
self-sacrificing...jws only sacrifice what is convenient and only so they get everlasting life
Q12. In what way is Jehovah's power demonstrated?
12 Power. Only “God, the Almighty,” has
the power to create life. (Rev. 11:17; Ps. 36:9)
At birth, a human starts out like a blank
sheet of paper, as it were. At death, he has
filled that blank sheet with the decisions, actions,
and experiences of a lifetime that
shaped his individuality and personality.
That information can be filed away in Jehovah’s
memory. In due time, Jehovah can restore
the individual to life again, complete
with his unique life pattern. (John 5:28, 29)
Thus, although not God’s original purpose
for humans, death has given Jehovah the
opportunity to show that his power reaches
even beyond the grave. Indeed, Jehovah is
“God, the Almighty.”
COMMENTSIs a baby a tabula rasa..a blank slate, sheet?
To Carl Jung, people come into the world with a universal unconscious, a set of shared symbols and beliefs that exist
both within and outside the person, no matter what culture he or she belongs to.
So this life restored, a clone or the original?
Q13. How was Jesus' sacrifice a demonstration of Jehovah's perfect justice?
13 Justice. Jehovah does not lie; neither
does he act unjustly. (Deut. 32:4; Titus 1:2)
He always holds to the highest standards of
truth and of justice, even when doing so appears
to be to his own disadvantage. (Rom. 8:32)
How painful it must have been for Jehovah
to see his beloved Son die on a torture
stake as if Jesus were an unfaithful blasphemer!
Yet, out of love for imperfect humans,
Jehovah was willing to permit this
painful event to take place in order to uphold
his own perfect standard of justice.
(Read Romans 5:18-21.) A world full of injustice
gave Jehovah the opportunity of demonstrating
himself to be the pinnacle of justice.
COMMENTSGod may not lie but jws will when it is to their disadvantage.
QUOTES*** it-2 p. 245 Lie ***
While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it.
*** w07 2/1 p. 6 Why Be Truthful? ***
Every lie is an untruth, but not every untruth is a lie.
COMMENTSThere was more pain involved for Jesus than God
Q14,15. What are some of the ways that Jehovah's superlative wisdom and patience have been manifested?
14 Wisdom. Immediately after Adam and
Eve sinned, Jehovah revealed the way that
he would undo all the bad effects caused by
their rebellion. (Gen. 3:15) Such immediate
action, as well as his progressively revealing
details of this purpose to his servants,
brought Jehovah’s wisdom into sharp
focus. (Rom. 11:33) Nothing can impede
God’s ability to handle matters successfully.
In a world marked by immorality, war,
unreasonableness, disobedience, mercilessness,
partiality, and hypocrisy, Jehovah has
had ample opportunity to demonstrate to
his creatures what real wisdom is. The disciple
James said: “The wisdom from above is
first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable,
ready to obey, full of mercy and good
fruits, not making partial distinctions, not
hypocritical.”—Jas. 3:17.
COMMENTSHow much did God reveal in Genesis 3:15? It was a mystery, that no one understood for 4,000 years.
BUZZ PHRASE: progressively revealing details of this "purpose" (not plan as in Russell's day)
to his servants: only the WTS
Was it progressive when the WTS taught that the "time of the end" started in 1799; that Jesus' invisible presence
began in 1874, that Jesus became king in 1878, that the calling of the anointed ended in 1881, and that Armageddon
would come in 1914? Not hardly since all those dates had to be "adjusted."
Are there no good, caring people amongst non-jws in the world?
15 Patience and Long-Suffering. Jehovah’s
qualities of patience and long-suffering
would scarcely have come so prominently to
the fore had it not become necessary forhim
to deal with human imperfections, sins, and
shortcomings. Jehovah’s willingness to do
so for thousands of years demonstrates that
he possesses these marvelous qualities to a
perfect degree, and for that we should be
most grateful. The apostle Peter rightly stated
that we should “consider the patience of
our Lord as salvation.”—2 Pet. 3:9, 15.
COMMENTSGod can be patient and long-suffering since a thousand years is as one day to him; but what about humans who barely
live 1/10 of a thousand years, 100 years x 365 days = 36,500 days?
Is it patience when 7 billion people today, men, women, and innocent children, will not have the same opportunity as all
humans who died before (except during the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah)?
Q16. Why is Jehovah's willingness to forgive a cause for great joy?
16 Willingness to Forgive. We are all sinners,
and we all stumble many times. (Jas. 3:2;
1 John 1:8, 9) How grateful we should be
that Jehovah is willing to forgive “in a large
way”! (Isa. 55:7) Consider also this fact: Having
been born as imperfect sinners, we are in
a position to experience the profound joy we
feel when God forgives us our errors. (Ps. 51:
5, 9, 17) Personally experiencing that heartwarming
characteristic of Jehovah strengthens
our love for him and encourages us to
follow his example in our dealings with others.—
Read Colossians 3:13.
COMMENTSCan God forgive us without going through the WTS and a congregational judicial committee of 3 imperfect male
elders? Yet elders decide if works befitting repentance have taken place and somehow know what God is thinking.
QUOTES
*** w96 4/15 p. 29 Questions From Readers ***
If he later repents and produces works befitting repentance, divine forgiveness is possible. (Acts 26:20) In such a
situation, the Scriptures give the elders reason to believe that Jehovah has indeed forgiven the wrongdoer. Then, once
the person is reinstated, the elders can help him spiritually to become firm in the faith.
Hence, any forgiving or not forgiving on the part of the elders would be in the sense of Jesus’ words at Matthew 18:18:
“Truly I say to you men, Whatever things you may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things you
may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven.” Their actions would simply reflect Jehovah’s view of matters as
presented in the Bible.
WHY THE WORLD IS SICK
Q17,18. In what ways has Satan's way of ruling failed?
17 Satan’s entire world system—a product
of his way of governing—has repeatedly and
consistently failed over the centuries. In
1991, the newspaper The European noted:
“Is the world sick? Yes, indeed, but . . . not by
[an] act of God—the world’s illness was inflicted
by its peoples.” How true! Influenced
by Satan, our first parents chose human rule
over rule by Jehovah. They thereby set in
motion a way of governing that was bound
to fail. The pain and misery experienced by
people worldwide are signs that human rule
is afflicted by a dreadful illness.
COMMENTSSo then are all non-jws sick?
world = all non-jws
Remember was human rule by God any more successful? Israelites were tossing their children into the fire not just the Canaanites.
18 Satan’s way of governing appeals to selfishness.
However, selfishness can never conquer
love, which is the basis of Jehovah’s
way of governing. Satan’s way of governing
has failed to deliver stability, happiness,
or security. Jehovah’s way of ruling stands
vindicated! Do we have modern-day evidence
of that? Yes, as we will see in the next article.
COMMENTSHas selfishness conquered the love jws say they have?
What Did We Learn About
Rulership From Reading . . .
Romans 13:1, 2?
Proverbs 21:30?
Jeremiah 10:23?
Colossians 3:13?
CLOSING COMMENTS
Next week, Jehovah's Way of Ruling Vindicated! What about our experiences? While we were told that they were
anomalies, rarities, haven't we found that many times over the unloving acts of jws and the WTS have been repeated
over and over, over many years. Is the answer to wait on God?
Love, Blondie