Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-22-2011 WT Study (MARCH 15, 2011, pages 24-28 (READY)
Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will headed by QUOTES
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
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PROVE YOURSELF READY!
“Prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it,
the Son of man is coming.”—MATT. 24:44.
OPENING COMMENTS
Noah was told to load the ark 7 days before the flood started…he knew the end was coming in exactly 7 days. Members of the WT organization have been waiting since 1879 for the end to come in 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994.
Will God give jws a similar advance notice? “interior rooms” = congregations?
***w75 5/1 p. 278 par. 26 Why We Have Not Been Told “That Day and Hour” *** We, however, do not need to know the “day and hour” when God’s coming destructive act will begin. Survival of the animal creation has not been entrusted to us nor does the preservation of God-fearing persons—now found in over two hundred lands around the earth—depend on their all getting inside some physical structure in one location.
*** w09 5/15 p. 8 Where Should You Be When the End Comes? ***
Enter Into Your Interior Rooms”
“Go, my people, enter into your interior rooms, and shut your doors behind you,” states Isaiah 26:20. “Hide yourself for but a moment until the denunciation passes over.” This prophecy may have had its first fulfillment in 539 B.C.E. when the Medes and the Persians conquered Babylon. Upon entering Babylon, Cyrus the Persian apparently commanded everyone to stay indoors because his soldiers were ordered to execute any found out-of-doors.
In our day, the “interior rooms” of this prophecy could be closely associated with the more than 100,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world. Such congregations play an important role in our lives. They will continue to do so through “the great tribulation.” (Rev. 7:14) God’s people are commanded to go into their “interior rooms” and hide themselves “until the denunciation passes over.” It is vital that we develop and maintain a wholesome attitude toward the congregation and be firmly resolved to stay in close association with it. We can take to heart Paul’s exhortation: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as [we] behold the day drawing near.”—Heb. 10:24, 25.
Could be is hardly definitive. Grammatically speaking, 'could' is used to talk about theoretical possibility and is similar in meaning to 'might'. A theoretical possibility is not a factual certainty.
*** w01 3/1 p. 21 pars. 16-17 Salvation for Those Who Choose the Light ***Regarding that dangerous time, Jehovah warns us: “Go, my people, enter into your interior rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for but a moment until the denunciation passes over. For, look! Jehovah is coming forth from his place to call to account the error of the inhabitant of the land against him, and the land will certainly expose her bloodshed and will no longer cover over her killed ones.” (Isaiah 26:20, 21; Zephaniah 1:14) This warning showed the Jews how to survive the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C.E. Those who heeded it would have stayed in their houses, safe from the conquering soldiers out in the streets. Today, the “interior rooms” of the prophecy likely have to do with the tens of thousands of congregations of Jehovah’s people around the world. Such congregations are a protection even now, a place where Christians find safety among their brothers, under the loving care of the elders. (Isaiah 32:1, 2; Hebrews 10:24, 25) This is especially true in view of the nearness of the end of this system of things when survival will depend on obedience.—Zephaniah 2:3.
What does the WTS say is the ark today?
"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." Watchtower2006 May 15 p.22 "Are You Prepared for Survival?" Paragraph 8
What does a person have to do to be in the ark—only baptized jws?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/salvation-only-for-jehovahs-witnesses.php
What is the current understanding of whether it rained before the flood?
*** w98 1/15 p. 9 par .6 “Walking by Faith, Not by Sight”*** Had there been rain prior to this? The Bible does not say. Genesis 2:5 says: “Jehovah God had not made it rain.” But this is how Moses, who lived centuries later, expressed matters in discussing not Noah’s day but a time long before that. As shown at Genesis 7:4, Jehovah referred to rain when speaking to Noah, and evidently Noah understood what he meant .
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) What events foretold in Bible prophecy
can be compared to an attack by a tiger? (b) How
does the coming attack affect you? .
FOR years, a noted performer entertained
audiences by interacting peacefully with
his trained Bengal tigers. He said: “When an
animal gives you its trust, you feel like you
have been given the most beautiful gift in
the world.” But on October 3, 2003, that
trust ended. For no apparent reason, one of
his animals, a 380-pound (172 kg) white tiger,
attacked him. That attack was totally
unexpected, and the trainer was not prepared.
COMMENTS
So why doesn’t the WTS use the name of this “noted” performer? Why make people guess?
Siegfried and Roy
http://www.siegfriedandroy.com/index.php
Has the WTS proven to be trustworthy? 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994….flipflopflip doctrines
Superior authorities: secular governments, then Jesus and God, and back to secular governments
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/superior-authorities.php
Organ transplants okay until 1967, 1967 to 1980 dfing offense, 1980 okay again
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/transplants.php
Sodom and Gomorrah resurrection: back and forth several times
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/resurrection.php
2 It is of interest to note that the Bible
foretells an attack of a “wild beast,” and we
need to be ready. (Read Revelation 17:15-18.)
Whom does this beast attack? In a stunning
plot twist, the Devil’s world becomes
divided against itself. The scarlet-colored
wild beast represents the United Nations,
and “the ten horns” represent all the political
powers. These will turn on the harlotlike
Babylon the Great, the world empire of false
religion, and violently destroy her. When
will this event occur? We do not know the
day and the hour. (Matt. 24:36) We do know
that it will be at an hour when we do not expect
it and that the time left before this attack
is reduced. (Matt. 24:44; 1 Cor. 7:29) It
is vital, then, that we keep ourselves spiritually
ready so that when that attack occurs
and Christ comes as Executioner, he will
also prove to be our Deliverer! (Luke 21:28)
To achieve this state of readiness, we can
learn from faithful servants of God who
proved themselves ready and thus became
eyewitnesses of the fulfillment of God’s
promises. Will we take these real-life experiences
to heart?
COMMENTS
Scarlet-colored wild beast = United Nations (WTS changing tune)
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association.php
Ten horns = all the political powers
Past definitions: all political powers
Only some powers in UN
All powers in or outside UN
Babylon the Great = world empire of false religion
Past definitions: Papacy
“we do not know the day or the hours” but the WTS has predicated the date: 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994
1941
"Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord's provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon ." Watchtower1941 September 15 p.288 CLICK HERE for scan
1914-1924
http://home.tiscali.nl/t661020/wtcitaten/part2.htm
1925-1974
http://home.tiscali.nl/t661020/wtcitaten/part3.htm
1975-and beyond
http://home.tiscali.nl/t661020/wtcitaten/part4.htm
1975
"The fact that fifty-four years of the period called the "last days" have already gone by is highly significant. It means that only a few years, at most, remain before the corrupt system of things dominating the earth is destroyed by God." Awake!1968 Oct 8 p.13 CLICK HERE for scan
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/truth.php
Did the WTS show that they believed it was at a time that was not expected when the WTS said it would be in these years?
Jesus is going to execute all 7 billion plus non-jws, men, women and children, to descend into eternal destruction?
Prove Yourself Ready—Like Noah
3. What conditions made it challenging for Noah
to serve God faithfully?
3 Despite the sickening conditions that
prevailed on earth during his lifetime, Noah
proved himself ready to see the fulfillment
of God’s promise. Imagine the challenges
Noah had to face as rebel angels materialized
in human form and cohabited with attractive
women! These unnatural unions
produced superhuman offspring, “mighty
ones” who used their superior power to bully
others. (Gen. 6:4) Think of the violence
that was fomented as these giants caused
havoc wherever they went. Consequently,
wickedness prevailed and man’s thinking
and behavior became thoroughly depraved.
The Sovereign Lord Jehovah then issued a
divine decree that marked the beginning of
the end for that ungodly world.—Read Genesis
6:3, 5, 11, 12.*
*As to the “hundred and twenty years” mentioned at
Genesis 6:3, see The Watchtower, December 15, 2010,
page 30.
COMMENTS
Noah was told to enter the ark, 7 days later the end came. Will jws have the same time space?
Unnatural unions—angels mating with humans was viewed the same as humans mating with animals.
What about Noah’s father Lamech and his grandfather Methusaleh…did they die before the flood?
So why destroy a 1 month old baby…eternally…?
At a New York convention Fred Franz was asked if only Jehovah's Witness kids would survive Armageddon, and he said "Well, little nits eventually become lice, and little rats grow up to become big rats. (Gruss 44)
4, 5. In what ways are conditions in our day similar
to those of Noah’s day?
4 Jesus prophesied that the conditions in
our day would be similar to those in the
days of Noah. (Matt. 24:37) For example, we
also witness interference by wicked spirits.
(Rev. 12:7-9, 12) These demon angels materialized
in the days of Noah. Although
they are now barred from materializing as
humans, they endeavor to control young
and old alike. Behind the scenes, these sex
perverts derive pleasure from the evil and
debased actions of those whom they can
corrupt on the earth.—Eph. 6:11,12.
COMMENTS
Similar not the “same”
Since the “demons” are invisible how do jws know that the interference is from them?
So where does it say the wicked angels are sex perverts corrupting people on earth? Ephesians 6:11,12?
Ephesians 6:11-12 (New International Version)Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
What about the sex perverts (pedophiles) in the jw congregations who made just as invisible by the WT organization?
5 God’s Word describes the Devil as “a
manslayer” and says that he has “the means
to cause death.” (John 8:44; Heb. 2:14)
His power is limited when it comes to
causing death directly. Nonetheless, this vicious
spirit fosters deceit and seduction. He
plants murderous attitudes in the hearts
and minds of people. For example, 1 out of
every 142 children born in the United States
will become a murder victim. With senseless
violence so prevalent, do you think that
Jehovah will take less notice today than he
did in Noah’s day? Will he fail to act?
COMMENTS
“His power is limited when it comes to causing death directly”
So does Satan cause people to murder one out of every 142 children in the US?
Again why does the WTS fail to cite their source?
http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/reviews/american-homicide
6, 7. How did Noah and his family demonstrate
faith and godly fear?
6 In due time, Noah was informed of
God’s decision to bring a deluge of waters
upon the earth, bringing all flesh to ruin.
(Gen. 6:13, 17) Jehovah instructed Noah to
build an ark shaped like a huge chest. Noah
and his family went to work. What helped
them to obey and prove themselves ready
when God’s judgment arrived?
COMMENTS
In due time, 120 years, but WTS says it was 70 years later that God told Noah.
So what organization was Noah part of? Did he have to obey a governing body? Was he unable to communicate with God without one?
7 Deep faith and godly fear moved Noah
and his family to do as God commanded.
(Gen. 6:22; Heb. 11:7) As family head, Noah
stayed alert spiritually and avoided the corruption
of that ancient world. (Gen. 6:9)
He knew that his family needed to guard
against adopting the violent ways and defiant
attitude of the people around them. It
was important that they not become engrossed
in the everyday affairs of life. God
had a work for them to do, and it was vital
that the entire family center their lives on it.
—Read Genesis 6: 14, 18.
COMMENTS
As God commanded, directly to Noah not through an “organization” or “governing body.”
Do jws center their lives…do the Bethelites, what a party crowd they are.
Noah and His Family Proved Ready
8. What indicates that the members of Noah’s family
practiced godly devotion?
8 The Bible account focuses attention on
the family head Noah, but Noah’s wife and
his sons and their wives were also worshippers
of Jehovah. The prophet Ezekiel confirmed
this. He said that if Noah were living
in Ezekiel’s time, his children would not be
delivered on the basis of their father’s righteousness.
They were old enough to obey or
disobey. Therefore, they had personally given
evidence of their love for God and his
ways. (Ezek. 14:19, 20) Noah’s family accepted
his instruction, shared his faith, and did
not allow the influence of others to hinder
their God-given work.
COMMENTS
Why is there no record of Noah’s wife’s name or her daughter-in-laws?
What if his children had been ten years old?
9. We can point to what modern-day examples of
Noahlike faith?
9 How encouraging today to see within
our worldwide brotherhood family heads
who are doing their utmost to imitate
Noah! They realize that it is not enough
to provide food, clothing, shelter, and
education for their families. They must also
care for their spiritual needs.
In doing so, they are proving
themselves ready for what Jehovah
will soon do.
COMMENTS
Family heads = single women as well but not recognized such in the past in the organization
But would it make since to give a person a bible when they are starving and living on the street. James 2:15,16
SOON
Noah and his family kept focused on Jehovah’s work
10, 11. (a) While inside the ark, how did Noah and
his family undoubtedly feel? (b) What question do
we do well to ask ourselves?
10 Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives may have
worked on building the ark for some 50 years. As they
built the ark, they must have gone in and out of it hundreds
of times. They waterproofed it, stocked it with food, and brought
in the animals. Picture the scene. The big day finally arrives. It is the
17th day of the second month of the year 2370 B.C.E., and they go
into the ark. Jehovah shuts the door, and it begins to rain. This is no
mere local flood. The water canopy, or heavenly ocean, bursts
open, and a torrential downpour pounds
the ark. (Gen. 7:11, 16) People outside the
ark are dying while those inside are being
saved. What might Noah’s family have felt?
Profound gratitude to God, yes. But undoubtedly
they thought, ‘How glad we are
that we walked with the true God and
proved ourselves ready!’ (Gen. 6:9) Can you
picture yourself on the other side of Armageddon,
your heart swelling with similar appreciation?
COMMENTS
MAY HAVE worked on building the ark for some 50 years
MUST HAVE
17 th day of the second month (see Harold Camping and his calculations)
Water canopy = see Isaac Newton Vail from the 19 th century the basis of the WTS water canopy teachings, “Annular Theory” 1874 the basis of today’s creation science (please note there is no mention of him in the WTS publications after 1950 on the WT-CD…I wonder why?
http://www.archive.org/details/earthsannularsys00vailuoft
JF Rutherford, Creation, 1927, p.25-30
“The theory that is reasonable and supported by the Scriptures is entitled to a candid consideration…it seems to have been the plan of Jehovah God to begin the increase of light upon his great work for the benefit of man about the year 1874 A.D. It was in that year that Isaac N. Vail first published a pamphlet entitled “The Earth’s Annular System.” …a brief summary of the annular theory as stated by Mr. Vail is here given here…the annular system relative to the earth, as advocated by Mr. Vail, is reasonable. It is supported by truth revealed in the word of God.”
11 Nothing can stop the Almighty from
fulfilling his promise to bring an end to this
satanic system of things. Ask yourself, ‘Do
I have absolute confidence that none of
God’s promises will fail even in the slightest
detail and that all of them will be fulfilled at
his appointed time?’ If so, prove yourself
ready by keeping close in mind that fast approaching
“day of Jehovah.”—2 Pet. 3:12.
COMMENTS
Bring the end in 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994?
Did God’s promises fail then or did the WTS?
FAST APPROACHING
Moses Remained Alert
12. What could have blurred Moses’ spiritual vision?
12 Let us consider another example. From
a fleshly viewpoint, Moses seemed to be in
an exceedingly advantageous position in the
Egyptian world. As the adopted son of Pharaoh’s
daughter, likely he was highly esteemed
and enjoyed the finest of foods, the
best of clothing, and the most luxurious of
surroundings. He received an extensive education.
(Read Acts 7:20-22.) He may have
been in line to inherit a magnificent estate.
COMMENTS
OT = Moses
Fleshy = worldy, a term the WTS has tried had to drop by the wayside
HE RECEIVED AN EXTENSIVE EDUCATION—was Moses eliminated as a choice because he had an extensive education?
MAY HAVE = the WTS adds to the bible
13. How did Moses remain focused on God’s promises?
13 Apparently, early training by his parents
allowed Moses to discern the folly of idol
worship practiced by the Egyptians. (Ex.
32:8) The educational system of Egypt and
The material splendor of the royal house did
not cause Moses to abandon true worship.
He must have pondered deeply over God’s
promises to his forefathers and had a keen
desire to prove himself ready to do the divine
will. After all, Moses told the sons of Israel:
“Jehovah . . . the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent
me to you.”—Read Exodus 3:15-17.
COMMENTS
APPARENTLY
MUST HAVE
So if Moses could avoid being influenced, others could too.
God’s sure promises helped Moses to remain watchful
14. How were Moses’ faith and courage put to the
test?
14 Unlike all the idols representing the lifeless
gods of Egypt, Jehovah, the true God,
was real to Moses. He lived his life as if he
could see “the One who is invisible.” Moses
had faith that God’s people would be liberated,
but he did not know when that would be.
(Heb. 11:24, 25, 27) His strong desire to see
the Hebrews set free was manifested by his
defending an Israelite slave who was being
abused. (Ex. 2:11, 12) However, it was not
Jehovah’s time, so Moses had to live as a fugitive
in a faraway land. No doubt it was
difficult for him to go from enjoying the
comfortable surroundings of the Egyptian
court to living in the wilderness. Still, Moses
proved himself ready by keeping awake to
every instruction Jehovah gave him. Thus,
God could use him to bring relief to his
brothers after he spent 40 years in Midian. At
God’s direction, Moses obediently returned
to Egypt. The time had come for Moses to
carry out a divine commission and to do
God’s work in God’s way. (Ex. 3:2, 7, 8, 10)
Back in Egypt, Moses, ‘the meekest of all
men,’ needed faith and courage to appear
before Pharaoh. (Num. 12:3) He did so, not
just once, but time and again as the plagues
proceeded, not knowing from one plague to
the next how many more times he would
need to go before Pharaoh.
COMMENTS
Quite a few snippets and cited scriptures---???
EVERY instruction---so killing the Egyptian was directed by God?
Not knowing how many more times—of course if jws saw the Nile turn red, etc., and not several failed dates, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994
If jws had seen a burning bush and an angel—it would have been more clear
15. Despite setbacks, what moved Moses to remain
watchful for opportunities to honor his heavenly Father?
15 Over the next 40 years, from 1513 B.C.E.
to 1473 B.C.E., Moses faced disappointments.
Yet, he watched for opportunities to
honor Jehovah and wholeheartedly encouraged
his fellow Israelites to do so. (Deut. 31:1-8)
Why? Because he loved Jehovah’s name
and sovereignty more than his own name.
(Ex. 32:10-13; Num. 14:11-16) Despite disappointments
or setbacks, we too must continue
to support God’s rulership, confident
that his way of doing things is wiser, more
righteous, and better than any other. (Isa.
55:8-11; Jer.10:23) Is that how you feel?
COMMENTS
Faced disappointments—missed going into the Promised Land because of his own actions
Support God’s rulership = supporting the WTS/FDS/GB
*** w07 4/1 p. 25 par. 16 Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave ***Out of sheer gratitude and loyalty, the other sheep lovingly support Christ’s anointed “brothers” on the earth during this time of the end
His way or the WTS way?
Keep Awake!
16, 17. Why does Mark 13:35-37 have profound
meaning for you?
16 “Keep looking, keep awake, for you do
not know when the appointed time is.”
(Mark 13:33) Jesus gave that warning when
discussing the sign that would mark the
conclusion of this wicked system of things.
Consider the concluding words to Jesus’
great prophecy as recorded by Mark: “Keep
on the watch, for you do not know when
the master of the house is coming, whether
late in the day or at midnight or at cockcrowing
or early in the morning; in order
that when he arrives suddenly, he does not
find you sleeping. But what I say to you I say
to all, Keep on the watch.”—Mark 13:35-37.
COMMENTS
You do not know when the appointed time is = 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994?
17 Jesus’ exhortation is thought provoking.
He referred to four different
watches of the night. The final watch would
prove to be a challenging time to stay awake,
for it lasted from about three in the morning
until sunrise. War strategists consider
this to be the most effective time to attack
the enemy, affording the best opportunity
to catch them “sleeping.” Likewise now,
when in a spiritual sense the world is sound
asleep, we might have our greatest struggle
to stay awake. Do we have any doubt that we
need to “keep awake” and “keep looking”
for the foretold end and our deliverance?
COMMENTS
Final watch = 3 a.m. to sunrise
War strategists = who?
The world = all non-jws
OUR deliverance = only jws
18. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, what inestimable privilege
do we have?
18 The animal trainer mentioned at the
outset survived the attack by the Bengal tiger.
But Bible prophecy unmistakably indicates
that neither false religion nor the rest
of this wicked system will escape the approaching
end. (Rev. 18:4-8) May all of God’s servants,
young and old, see the seriousness
of doing all they can to prove
ourselves ready for Jehovah’s day as did
Noah and his family. We live in a God dishonoring
world in which teachers of false religion,
as well as agnostics and atheists,
mock the Creator with their speech. But
we cannot risk being affected. Let us take to
heart the examples that we have considered
and stay watchful for opportunities to defend
and honor Jehovah as “the God of gods,” yes,
“the God great, mighty and fear inspiring.”—
Deut. 10:17.
COMMENTS
WICKED SYSTEM = 7 billion non-jws, men, women and children, eternally destroyed, no hope of a resurrection
Do You Recall?
Why did Noah need to give priority
to his family’s spiritual needs?
How are our times remarkably similar
to Noah’s day?
Despite disappointments, why did
Moses keep his eyes focused on Jehovah’s
promises?
What Bible prophecies move you to
stay awake spiritually?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
We’re still here…what did the WTS say it was more important to be on the watch than have the right date?
*** w76 7/15 p. 441 par. 16 *** However, say that you are one who counted heavily on a date, and, commendably, set your attention more strictly on the urgency of the times and the need of the people to hear. And say you now, temporarily, feel somewhat disappointed; are you really the loser? Are you really hurt? We believe you can say that you have gained and profited by taking this conscientious course. Also, you have been enabled to get a really mature, more reasonable viewpoint.
Next week, KEEP AWAKE, AS JEREMIAH DID. And we know he was a good Christian, not! Remember who was Jeremiah preaching against, the Israelite rulers and religious leaders…the WTS of the past.
Love, Blondie