Today, many moviegoers will entertain themselves with a movie called 'The Avengers'. Filled with violent content, spiritism, and demonic overtones, it is hardly any surprise that those who are affected by 'the spirit of the world' will be drawn to its themes. (Eph. 2:2) Failing to recognize that Jehovah is the only one qualified to exact vengeance upon his enemies, this godless system of things continues to promote its crass commercialism and an entertainment industry saturated with sadistic violence, foul language, and pornographic material.
Thankfully, as Jehovah's clean people, we shun such material, instead preferring to eat at Jehovah's table rather than "the table of demons". (1 Cor. 10:21) However, like these so-called "Avengers" are another group that we can say are equally satanic in nature--if not more so. Who are they?
Apostates Assemble!
Just as thousands of wicked Baal worshippers gathered in the desperate but vain hope that their god would prove superior to Jehovah in Elijah's time, so today thousands of wicked apostates gather in large groups, either online or in private groups. Usually such gatherings involve blasphemy against Jehovah himself and against his organization, particularly against the "faithful and discreet slave" class, from which we receive "food at the proper time". Their twisted, bizarre reasonings often cloud the minds of the unwary and those not carefully watching their step. How grateful we are that Jehovah warns us to avoid them! (Matt. 24:45-47; Rom. 16:17, 18) However, admittedly, it can perhaps be said that 'The Avengers' include personality traits that are similar to those of Satan and his apostate followers. How so? Let us see.
The movie, based on a Marvel comic book series, involves seven individuals who unite to battle a demonic sorcerer named Loki. Is this not similar to the deceptive reasoning of apostates, who believe themselves to be "heroes" fighting against the "evils" of the "faithful slave" class? Just like these "heroes", apostates' way of thinking is a product of a collectively diseased imagination.
Like Captain America, such apostates disassociate themselves from Jehovah's organization, allying themselves with the political powers of this world. This does not surprise us, as Christendom--the chief part of the world empire of false religion--is where apostates who still have a measure of desire for worship often go!
Also, Thor, being a false, pagan god, no doubt appropriately represents apostates who revert back to pagan, worldly holidays, reasoning that now that they have their "freedom" they can also enjoy the so-called "fun things" that those in the world are doing. Paul appropriately warned about them, saying: "Neither become idolaters, as some of them did." (1 Cor. 10:7) How his vain, self-centered attitude is a reflection of that of apostates! They reason themselves to be smarter, savvier, perhaps more spiritually enlightened than the very ones who taught them the better part of what they know about the Bible. Such reasoning is faulty and merely puts them in line for destruction.
The Hulk, full of unbridled rage, represents these angry ones, who, turning away from Jehovah's organization, then proceed to blaspheme it with slander and lies designed to mislead others. Often they air their supposed grievances in the media, falsely accusing Jehovah's people of failing to protect the young ones or covering over criminal acts by some in the congregation. In time, all such accusations by angry ones are proven to be false. Just like the Hulk, when all their anger is done, they are nothing more than misguided, broken, imperfect men.
Perhaps, like Iron Man, some apostates reason that their "iron-clad logic" protects them from the "mind control" the slave class is supposedly using on Jehovah's people. Hiding behind their technology, they use the Internet to post lies and misinformation about Jehovah's Witnesses, hoping to get followers for themselves. No doubt, like the immoral Tony Stark, they turn to material riches, alcohol abuse and fornication to cope with their spiritually decrepit and barren state. They thus avidly represent "the world [that] is passing away". (1 John 2:15-17)
Evidently, Hawkeye aptly demonstrates apostates' ability to pretend to have keen spiritual sight. However, they so often miss the mark in their understanding of God's Word that they find themselves once more relying upon the publications provided by Jehovah's organization to teach themselves and others! How shameful their spiritually isolated state must be!
Black Widow is an antitype of the immoral, loose apostate women, who rush out of Jehovah's clean organization in a desperate search for a suitable marriage mate. Finding none in Satan's world, they are left with no choice but to engage in grossly immoral or even unnatural lifestyles to satisfy their depraved sexual desires. Their dress and grooming reflect the immodesty of this world, as their clothes are revealing or too tight, thus drawing the attention of morally bankrupt men who, like Shechem, take them as vessels for fornication. As with Shechem, such women are easily persuaded by the pretenses of worldly suitors. May we avoid their shameful example and "flee from the desires incidental to youth"! (Gen. 32:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:31; 2 Tim. 2:20-22)
Nick Fury symbolizes those who, like the "superfine apostles" in Paul's time, seek to put themselves in a position of authority, perhaps fraudulently claiming to have secret knowledge of imagined weaknesses on the part of Governing Body members. They may publish false accounts of decisions made by the "faithful slave" class and try to get others to follow them instead of remaining loyal to the Christ and his anointed. But their spiritual vision and their self-aggrandizing, fabricated anecdotes are only half there--half-truths and outright lies are common propaganda tools used by such wicked individuals. (2 Tim. 3:8; 4:4)
Taken together, when apostates assemble as one, the effect on those who are caught in their vicious, satanic traps can be devastating. Thus, by their mouths, apostates bring to ruin their fellowmen, leading them out of the truth and into a spiritual wasteland, where they wither and die spiritually, awaiting the time when Jehovah will execute them physically for turning their backs on his loyal organization. (Prov. 11:9) Thankfully, Jehovah has provided us with timely instructions on how to avoid Satan's snares. May we all carefully heed divine counsel and thus be spared from the vilest liars on the earth, the apostates.--2 Cor. 2:11