If 1914, 144,000, and this generation were dropped...

by sayitsnotso 20 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  isaacaustin

  Sayitsnotso,

  If the org made 144,000 symbolic they would solve many issues such as the increased nuber, and if they continued to stress 'great crowd' and earthly hope' they'd be fine so far as that. However, if the members all claimed to be annointed they'd have issues since they teach the 'annointed' will reign from heaven over the earthly crowd. Mainstream Christianity does not teach 2 groups in 2 locations. The org would then have to answer who the one class is ruling over. If they were to go mainstream and teach that there is one class which will rule from the earth over those not destroyed at armageddon who have not made a choice either way, or those who died ignorant of the WT message...then they would have admit Jesus having a physical 2nd return. It would not make sense to have a group of non-beleivers who need to be taught alone on earth submitting to heavenly rule.
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  5thGeneration

  Changing 144,000 to figurative would be very easy to change with barely a ripple as I believe a lot of JWs doubt it's literal anyway at this point.

  They'd simply write an article how the light is brighter and because everything else is figurative Holy Spirit has directed them that so is the number of anointed. This would explain this and this and that, etc...

  Dropping 1914/607 would stumble many and a lot would leave. Too much has been based on 1914 for too long.

  JMHO
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  straightshooter

  I thought the changing of the generation would cause a ripple but no. Therefore changing or voiding 1914 would have an affect on the older jw but not the newer ones. And the older jw would stay because of loyalty to the organization.
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  isaacaustin

  Honestly, these changes would only effect those who are already questioning....the drones (such as my family) would simply follow.
• 

  yknot

  Isaacaustin........

  HUGS to you and your family

  Prayers for their awakening
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  JWoods

  I have thought for quite a while that the simple instruction for everybody to partake of the emblems could be done to avoid having to take count of the ever-increasing "remnant". It might make it possible to hang on to the literal 144,000 - in theory, they could still be around, just not counted at the memorial. After all, there is absolutely nothing biblically that teaches a "second class of christians who do not take the Lord's evening meal."

  Of course, then I realize that this is probably not realistic - the JW heirarchy is much too dependent on the "two-class" system and much of that comes from the idea of the annointed being reinforced as the only ones in the new covenant and the only ones fit to partake.

  I think 1914 probably has to stay with them - even if it becomes more and more meaningless over the years. Probably some new "time period" could be thought up to cover it - they have already muddled the generation so badly that it cannot be likely touched for ten or more years now.

  It is pathetic to have at least three basic doctrines which are ticking time bombs with no realistic way out other than to admit they were flat wrong.
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  isaacaustin

  Thanks YKnot,

  JWoods, i agree. The 7th Day Adventists still hold to 1844 as the 'invetigative judgment period'...although it has shrunk in significance...as has 1914.
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  JWoods

  Yup, Isaac - "investigative judgement period"...sufficiently vague and mysterious to suit the JW lingo setup.

  No ugly "end generation" or "time of the end" stuff to worry about - and probably no current JW would know the 7th Day uses it too...

  I like it.
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  St George of England

  And the older jw would stay because of loyalty to the organization

  They would stay out of loyalty to themselves and their families that are still in. Too much hassle to get D/Aed or D/Fed after 50 or 60 years in. The threat of being shunned is just too great for many.

  George
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  EndofMysteries

  If 1914 is dropped, then the entire revelation book must be dropped, then them being 'chosen' as the faithful and discreet slave must be dropped, no need to go beyond that, that would destroy them.