Who sits in the Temple of God Professing to God?
In order to arrive at the truth of this matter, one would have to locate an Organization that would appear to be for all the World to contain the anointed Brothers of the Christ. One that could mislead, if possible, even the Chosen Ones. To that end I will use the Bible of the Organization I believe fits the Apostle Paul's description of the Man of Lawelessness. To a "T"!
Paul told us this Man would have a verbal message or a letter, that would look for all the World to come from the True Anointed Class. "As though from us." Paul had told us. This one would be preaching "the Day of Jehovah is here." Jesus himself also made mention of such an Organization that would appear while the sign of his coming was in evidence. For he Stated:
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones. 25 Look! I have forewarned YOU." {Matthew 24:24 NWT} In order to possibly mislead the Chosen Ones, they would have to have that verbal message or letter Paul warned about, that had the appearance of Coming from the true anointed class: "As though from us." He had warned.
"However, brothers, respecting the presence {COMING} of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we request of YOU 2 not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here." {2 Thessalonoians 2:1,2 NWT}
This one would be preaching that 'the Day of Jehovah was here' which was a strong warning sign to watch out for.
"Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called "god" or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god. 5 Do YOU not remember that, while I was yet with YOU, I used to tell YOU these things?" {2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 NWT}
Paul had given a previous warning to the congregation as you see he mentions here: "I used to tell you these things." That was the following:
"Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works." {2 Corinthians 11:12-15 NWT} So, even though there would be such an Organization in evidence they would be false Apostles, transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ.
So! This one with the verbal message or letter was a mere pretense, a masquarade, False Apostle's transforming themselves into Apostles of Christ. Associated with ministers who themselves transformed themselves into ministers of righteousness. All of these would be preaching the Day of Jehovah was here. Paul warned not to be seduced by them. Luke also made mention of them in his writings, for note what Luke tells us about them, as he pens the words of Jesus:
He said: "Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.’ Do not go after them." {Luke 21:8 NWT}
A point to keep in mind here, is the preaching the of Good News of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all Nations. Was that work to be authorized by Jehovah why would Jesus warn us away from those telling us 'the due time has approached?' Why would he warn us away from those 'coming on the basis of his name?'If that preaching work was actually authorized by Jehovah?
Now consider an excerpt from the live forever in Paradise Book on page 141 Paragragph 21 which tells us: "This means that Jesus Christ began to rule as King of God's Heavenly Government in 1914 and because the Kingdom has started to rule, how timely it is that we pray for it to come and wipe satan's system of things from the earth." With those words they are telling us what Jesus served warning about: "The due time has approached." "Do not go after them," he warned. That is exactly what Paul warned us about; "the Day of Jehovah is here." Do not be seduced by them," he also warned.
How would it be that the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society is set in opposition and lifts themselves up over everyone who is called "god" or an object of reverence, as Paul notes:
"He is set in opposition
and lifts himself up over everyone who is called "god" or an object of reverence, so thathe sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god."
Consider some of their own words that are quite revealing. This first one a prime example of how they lift themselves up over everyone:
1973 Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book. (Watchtower; July 1, 1973; p. 402) That's quite an exalted status isn't it? Only they understand the Bible? Only to them it is not a sealed Book?
So! To them alone the Bible is not a sealed Book. Only their Organization functions for Jehovah's pupose and Praise. I wonder what was going on for all of those 130 years of failed predictions and false prophecies? The Book wasn't sealed to them, then I guess they'll have us all believe? Quite a lofty stance in the face of that isn't it?
Only they understand the Bible? Let's see if they lift themselves any higher, shall we?1973 "Consider too, the fact that Jehovah's organization
alone in all the earth is directed by God's holy spirit or active force." (Watchtower, July 1, 1973, page 402)
The Holy Spirit must have taken a 130 year holiday while they were making those failed predictions and false prophecies. You think? Maybe? Well, come on, everyone needs a break now and then, don't they? A Holiday to rest up a bit?
1967 "Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so,
be complete in accepting its every aspect." (Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 591)
1957 The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Becausethey do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: "Light is sown for the righteous." (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Biblecannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind. (The Watchtower; 10/1/1967; pp. 587The Watchtower; 10/1/1967; pp. 587 In telling us the Organization is our Mother, by that lofty claim they are telling us that they are Jehovah's Heavenly Woman, the Woman that produces the Man Child; she is Heavenly New Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above. Wow! Lift yourself High? No higher than that can be gained. Now there's no one on this Planet that can understand the Bible without Jehovah's Visible Organization in mind, they tell us. The Bible contradicts their claim about God not arranging the Bible to speak independently or to shine life giving truths by itself, for Jesus said: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in their midst." {Matthew 18:20} What's that tell us?If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother. (The Watchtower; 5/1/1957; pp. 2741967
This is a pip! The Organization is now Heavenly New Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above, Pual said, and she is our Mother. Talk about lifting yourself Heaven High! You can't get much higher than that, now can you? We're really in trouble too, because we can't understand the Bible apart from them; now we'll never learn how they established that 130 year record of failed predictions and false prophecies. Darn! And I wanted to know just how they did that too. Never know, now.
1972 "That they [Jehovah's Witness] must adhere absolutely to the decisions and scriptural understandings of the Society because God has given it this authority over his people." (Watchtower, May 1, 1972, p. 272)
Now this is priceless! All the while they were establishing that long record of Bleeps and Blunders, the rank and file had to adhere ABSOLUTELY to those scriptural mis-understandings, because they had God's Authority over them to force them to do so. In other words you all better accept our 130 record of failed predictions and false prophecies or we'll get God after you for not adhering to them, cuz we got his authority. Talk about talking with your foot in your mouth; that's a real gem.
Channel to under to standing the Bible... All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. (Watchtower; Oct. 1, 1994; p. 8) PauL said: "For the spirit searches into all things even the deep things of God." Kind of throws cold water all over them doesn`t it? {1 Corinthians 2:10}
So! Here we have them taking the place of Jehovah's true teaching instrument, the Holy Spirit. Because only they can teach the greatly diversified wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit is now unemployed. If that isn't bad enough, they are even taking the position of the Christ, who is himself the faithful Slave.
Now! Here is the Best one of all. First they tell us that they are the anointed Brothers of the Christ out of one side of their mouths, then we're told that they are the Faithful Slave as well. So, they are telling us that they are the "HOUSE" by claiming to be of the anointed class; and at the same time, they are telling us that they are also the ones appointed over the House by claiming that they are the Faithful Slave. So, they are all appointed over themselves. They are the "HOUSE?" They are the faithful slave, appointed over the "HOUSE". Hmmm!
Notice what Paul had told us about that at Hebrews 3:1-6 which is highly enlightening, to say the least:
Jesus Greater Than Moses
1"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son OVER God's "HOUSE." "And WE ARE HIS HOUSE", if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." {Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV}
Now we do as Paul tells us, we fix our thoughts on Jesus, the one who was appointed OVER the House, and we notice Paul tells us all of the annointed class constituted the House itself. "We are the House!" He said! Jesus was appointed OVER the House. Over all of the anointed Class in the first Century. Aw but now, everythings changed around, the Anointed Class is now appointed OVER the House; and being of the anointed class as they claim; they are the House as well, appointed over themselves. I need a good stiff drink! How can the anointed be the house, and at the same time be appointed over it? So they are the Anointed Class, the HOUSE! The Faithful Slave, and appointed OVER the HOUSE. So we have another Trinity here, by the looks of things. ANOINTED - HOUSE - FAITHUL SLAVE - Three in one! All the same!
The Book that they tell us is sealed to all but them, is sealed more to them, that to anyone else, obviously.
What is one major way they sit in the Temple of God professing themselves to be God? May it be in the following way?
"identify Jehovah’s channel of communication for our day......respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God, because it is his provision."
So, when they speak to anyone, it is the voice of God speaking to us according to them, and we are to respond to what they say, as we would to the literal voice of God. That expression seats them in the Temple of God professing themselves to be God.
Wt, 6/1/1985, pg 30
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization? Notice where they tell us to look to, to get the full depth of thoughts explained: Rather than tells us to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to increase our knowledge they direct our attention to the 130 year record of failed predictions and false prophecies to increase our learning, and tell us to dig deeper into that failed record.
Wt, 6/15/1985, pg 12,
...for the purpose of getting the full depth of the thoughts explained...It requires digging deeper, putting forth effort to locate that older publication and then studying the pages... "of our failed record." That failed record stamps the Governing Body of the Watchtower Society as a false prophet, who fits exactly the following description. Please note this:
Their own words:
Wt, 6/15/1974, pg 381
"
Similarly the "false prophet" is not a person, but is a system or an organization. A "prophet" claims to have inspired information for the direction of others."
Do they not claim to have inspired information, for the direction of others? Do they not claim to be God's Organization? Do they not claim to be God's Prophet, his mouthpiece? "God's Spirit Directed Organization?" Do they not lift themselves up over everyone who is called god, or an object of reverence? By claiming to be "God's Spirit Directed Organization?" By telling their followers that they should all listen to them as though they were listening to the very voice of God?
They have a very comfortable seat right in the Temple of God as Paul foretold they would have.
So, who sits in the Temple of God Professing to be God? Why, none other than the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. The Foretold Man of Lawlessness. Not the Way of the Truth, but the one in opposition to the Truth, that merely looks like the truth, but might, if possible, mislead even the chosen ones. Wannabe
(Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 591)
Now! Here's a beaut, isn't it? You got to be complete in accepting its every aspect, or no life. Yupper! Accept that 130 year record of failed predictions and false prophecies, or we'll just give you the Boot. Must be more better than that. I'll look: