A SECOND FULFILLMENT OF DANIEL 4:10-17, THE THREAD BY WHICH THEIR 'SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY' HANGS
If one were to get to the doctrinal root of the present-day WT Society, it surely would have to be the belief in 1914 as the beginning of the heavenly reign of Christ and the subsequent choosing of a 'faithful and discreet slave' to take charge of all his 'earthly belongings'.
The belief is that the 'faithful and discreet slave' has graduated from the one task of serving 'spiritual food' to being essentially the chief representative of Jesus in the earthly realm. Having that view means that all truly faithful JWs believe they must follow all directions given by the Governing Body. To do otherwise would mean to disobey Christ himself. There is no one higher in the ecclesiastical heirarchy, and there certainly is no group of 'anointed' ones to check the hand of the GB (even though they claim to be the representatives of the 'anointed').
Maybe that is why with many JWs you may try to reason with them doctrinally on various beliefs 'peculiar to' JWs but with no effect. Also, if the duly appointed earthly representative of Jesus (as they see it) says 'let there be [new] light', then it comes to be so in their minds. Trying to lop off the various doctrinal branches without being aware of the doctrinal root is, I think, the cause of failure in getting through to many JWs. However, if it can be shown that belief in a second fulfillment of Daniel 4:10-17 is simply an extra-biblical and man-made theological device to give support to ecclesiastical authority, then all of the other doctrinal branches that rely on that support can be shown to be extra-biblical and man-made too. As JWs are well aware, there is a very important Scriptural rule when it comes to matters of doctrine.
"Now, brothers, these things I have transferred so as to apply to myself and Apollos for your good, that in our case you may learn the [rule]: 'Do not go beyond the things that are written,' in order that you may not be puffed up individually in favor of the one against the other." [1 Corinthians 4:6]
A second fulfillment of Daniel 4:10-17, the thread by which their 'spiritual authority' hangs
by JWB 1 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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JWB
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Phizzy
But every organised religion has to go "beyond the things that are written" to justify their very existence.
"Written" would apply to before circa 55AD when Paul was writing the above.